Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Is a barcode required for 5L bag-in-box packaging?
A barcode is not a legal requirement for bag-in-box packaging, but members strongly recommend including one to avoid costly problems down the line. **Key points:** - **Not legally mandatory** — but treat it as essential in practice - **Required for retail placement** — supermarkets and multiple retailers will not stock products without barcodes; independent retailers may accept them - **Print before you need it** — members shared a cautionary tale of a major brand (Beavertown) receiving their first supermarket order only to discover thousands of cans had no barcodes. They spent a week reprinting and hand-sticking labels on every unit before delivery could proceed - **Cheap insurance** — the cost of adding a barcode upfront is negligible compared to the expense of reprinting labels and re-sticking stock if a retail opportunity suddenly appears - **Consider sticker option** — if barcode space or label design is tight, a barcode sticker can be applied later, but only as a last resort **Caveats:** Members emphasised that redundant stock and emergency reprints are not only costly but also risk missing delivery windows and losing orders. Print barcodes from the start.
Does bag-in-box qualify for UK draught alcohol duty relief?
Bag-in-box products do **not** qualify for draught duty relief under current UK rules. The draught relief scheme requires: - A **pump system and gas pressurised drinks tap** (not bag-in-box delivery) - Minimum **20 litres** per container - For cocktails specifically, a maximum ABV of **8.5%** Members confirmed that bag-in-box falls outside these technical requirements, so it cannot access the duty discount even if it meets other criteria. The relief is designed for products dispensed through traditional draught systems (kegs with tap systems), not flexible packaging.