Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
CONCERTGOERS HAVE COMPLAINED of feeling ripped off after they couldn’t get back a €3 deposit for plastic cups used to serve €7.50 pints at a Dublin gig last weekend – bringing the total cost of a drink to €10.50.
The events company operating the bar at British post-punk band The The’s gig at Collins Barracks on Sunday night said it will continue to “adapt” its “eco cup” system, but emphasised that the rules of the system were well signposted at the venue.
It added that it was “very satisfying” to see how clean the venue was as guests departed.
Concertgoers had to keep their receipts if they paid in cash, and if drinks were bought with card the same card had to be presented to obtain the refund.
One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he was told if he did not have a receipt for the purchase, the vendors could not issue a refund.
Another concert-goer, who bought a round in cash, told The Journal he was not told about the requirement to keep his receipt.
Follow Fox Events, the bar operator, said it operated its deposit return scheme at a “substantial cost” and said the scheme was “not a revenue source”.
The concertgoer who spoke to The Journal said: “While we were informed at the start that a refund mechanism applied, we were never notified of the ridiculous rules to actually receive the refund.”
“Most people simply left after the concert and didn’t seek a refund – likely because most purchases were completed by people just “tapping” cards. It seemed like a total rip-off to me.”
Follow Fox Events told The Journal: “Signs are posted at the entry to the queues and on the counter where guests place orders – guests are informed by staff of the deposit scheme when paying for their first beverages, and the deposit return system is explained.
“We do appreciate that, on occasion, messaging around returns may be overlooked, as guests are focused on their night rather than new environmental policies.
It added: “We are constantly monitoring the eco cup situation and will continue to adapt to further recommendations.”
Tickets for the gig were priced from €65.70, excluding a booking fee for Ticketmaster.
Despite some disappointment around the cost of drinks, fans posted on social media that The The did not disappoint.
The practice of requiring the payment of deposits for cups has been used to reduce plastic waste in recent years at concerts, festivals and football matches. At the Euro 2024 championships, German stadiums charged a €3 fee for the use of plastic cups during the Euro 2024 championships.
In many cases – including the government’s Re-Turn scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans – no receipt is needed. Some football fans took advantage of this at the Euros by collecting unreturned cups at the end of matches and cashing in at vendors.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Surely the cup is as good as a receipt?
@Richard Hennessy: Please, no sensible comments are allowed.
@Richard Hennessy: Nah that would never work! Think of the hundreds of people that would come in with stacks of cups trying to get the free 3blips back!
@Alan Kennedy: yeah who cares doh. At least then the cups are picked up and returned which is the whole idea. If the person who bought it chucked it then who cares who returns it. Surely printing more needless paper receipts is counter productive
@Alan Kennedy: that should be the incentive.
@Eamon: nice one
What a ripoff to the people trying to help the environment.
@Sean Money: well, if it was a tent instead of a cup there would be no complaints
Not just the Euros in Germany. At football grounds and beer gardens throughout Germany a simple deposit scheme is used. In some places you just return the glass,in other places you return the glass & a token. You then get €2 back in cash. Couldn’t be simpler. But in this case made awkward to maximize profits.
They made the refund process difficult so they could keep the money.
It’s just the latest scam to drag a little bit more money out of people. Eventually people will have had enough.
@John Moore: no they won’t .
@John Moore: everything is priced to what people will pay
They done the same at beyond the pale, had to pay a tenner for a cup and 7 for the drink and were told if the cup is returned then the money is. Returned all the cups and was told I needed a receipt and the card it was purchased with. The staff must be told not to inform people of this so the organisers can pocket/rob the profits!
Same happened during D8 in the Garden gig with Carl Cox in Palmerstown House in Naas. We were charged for 2 cups to be returned at the end and money redeemed. 2 pints and 2 cups were €21. And I remember that clearly the bar person said there was no Moretti available as the supplier didn’t deliver. It was around 2:30pm. Went back to bar after the party was over, they scanned our cards and said we weren’t charged the €3 which clearly wasn’t true but I left it unresolved as didn’t want to cause drama. Total scam !
It’s not about €3 but they encourage ppl to reuse and return cups to reduce litter but then don’t payback the deposit.
Cleaned their pockets alright
Was at the gig which was very good. The reason the place was clean afterwards was the age demographic , mainly of an age where we were taught to clean up after ourselves and take our rubbish with us. Just ripping the punter off again absolute gouging.
Que after the gig was huge they knew what they were doing
Can I not just bring my own reusable container ?
I would bring it home and wash it myself and use it for another gig or purpose.
If this really was eco or for environment then this would be the most environmentally effective, charge for it but if you have your own dont.
That’s Ireland all right
Deposit+token, as done in Germany, hand back token deposit returned simple
Just use the token system, buy your reusable plastic glass for €3, get a token and get your €3 back at the end of the night. I heard they were hundreds of plastic glasses thrown away on the grounds.
The organizers said they were very happy with how ‘clean’ the venue was once everyone departed
They should not be allowed to keep the money. Unclaimed monies should be given to a local charity.
If they are standard cups, with no marker to identify, then should require receipt, but should be VERY clear that is what required and receipts given.
For credit/debit card transaction, you have proof of purchase through the transaction and monies should be returned. Those paying CC who didn’t get money back should claim from their credit card company.
Scam, they could have easily had a barcode on each glass.
Rip of Ireland
Usual nonsense excuse – “no one told me the rules” BS. Let me spell it out: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
@Ben dover: and take it
@Ben dover: No, a rip off. The system was not properly explained at the bar, just a short notice.
I bought drinks on my card. My wife brought them back for refund and was told it had to be same card. What reaon for that? Rip off
@Ben dover: you clearly weren’t at the gig ya slack jawed tosspot.. I was…and the return process was most certainly a cynical scam..near the end of the gig you couldn’t enter the bar area to return the plastic cup “until the bar closed” I was told…Absolutely bonkers (aka disguised racketeering)
….
So they build up a massive queue and people couldn’t be arsed waiting and they’d put the glasses in a bin instead. Bar then pockets a tidy sum of a couple of grand in unreturned deposits
This is were I believe the famous regulator is supposed to step in the one that has been asleep at the wheel the last 20 years. Same as the banking regulator during the crisis with alarm bells ringing for a long time,as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Restaurants going to the wall, pubs and bars as well, 2 a day they say. Price gouging is a cancer in Irish hospitality and led predominately by greed and avarice, the country needs a reset and the book will always lie with government, people also finding out how much things cost beforehand helps
@Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: government watch on and do nothing.
I was at the Olympics in Paris and they were using this reusable cup system. They were charging an additional €2, but to get the refund you merely had to return your cup after use.
Pint less
Same in,palmerstown house gigs, tried to return cups and because myfrirnd used her card I couldn’t get a refund,even though I was buying her another drink.total rip off,hundreds of cups left unclaimed,as many people in rounds.
Most disappointing part of the night, rip off, no receipt no refund, did they honestly think people were going to queue up after gig for refund???
Scam,
Same thing happened the following night, Monday
“The poor drink the milk
While the rich eat the honey
The bums count their blessings
While the rest count their money”
My heart bleeds
@Cormac Carroll: I wouldn’t waste money on alcohol, it’s a mugs game
This just doesn’t make any sense, in Germany for example you just return the cup, the deposits acts as an incentive for others to clean up any left behind cups. Where’s the care for the environment with these stupid policies
Was at James in Collins Barracks on Monday, a super gig in a great venue. I bought 2 pints and was not charged for the cups, don’t remember seeing any signs re cup charge.
Concerts goers have plenty of money to spend. Look at the amount of tents, chairs, and other stuff abandoned at electric picnic.
Absolutely ridiculous. Many different festivals and gigs for years have had this in place where you only have to return the cups or the token and a refund is given. They’re clearly just out to fleece people which is so morally wrong. If everyone stood up and complained together, they’d have to listen. Those who were there can complain to the European Consumer Organisation, or the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, and file a complaint with the Ombudsman. Another reason I don’t go to gigs and festivals in Ireland anymore. :( makes a great experience extremely sour.
@S banter: For 3 euros? I agree it is a scam but not big enough to make a complaint about. The best scams work like that.
First World problems….
Round 1: Get charged. Round 2 and on, no charge for deposit. End of gig get your deposit back or there is a charity collecting empties. This system has been in for years at venues on the continent, don’t see why they had to try to break it. Sure some people may take empties but that’s rare enough. The solution is worse than the fix.
have your say