From July 1, food and beverage establishments in Georgia’s HoReCa sector will be prohibited from serving drinks in plastic bottles, with glass bottles and aluminum cans set to replace them. The regulation is expected to lead to higher prices for consumers.
According to Nikoloz Khundzakishvili, Director of Corporate Affairs at “Efes Georgia,” producers have already largely stopped supplying beverages in plastic bottles to the sector over the past month and have switched to alternative packaging. He noted that while businesses had time to adjust, the shift will inevitably increase costs, as alternative packaging is significantly more expensive.
Khundzakishvili said price increases will vary depending on the type of beverage, ranging from around 20% to as much as 50–60% in some cases. “Of course, prices will go up. Plastic bottled drinks are simply cheaper. The increase depends on the product, but it will definitely happen,” he said, adding that premium venues were already operating with glass packaging.
He also highlighted logistical challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized establishments, saying glass bottle management is more complex and costly than plastic. However, he added that while the transition creates difficulties, it is manageable and not a critical problem for the sector.
