Consumer watchdog urges review as bring-your-own-cup trials revealed inconsistencies

Consumer Council revealed issues over the bring-your-own-cup (BYOC) trials at beverage shops, including failure to provide information on the height or volume restrictions of self-brought cup, and some traders were found using take-out cups to prepare the drinks.

The Consumer Council's staff posed as customers and visited 20 beverage shops, including coffee, hand-shaken drink shops, and convenience stores, to conduct a total of 60 BYOC trials between November and December. 

Some noted that their self-brought cup was too tall for the drink dispenser because of unclear instructions. 

At least two shops were found to have prepared the beverage or ice cubes in a disposable container before pouring it back into the self-brought cups, which countered the purpose of eliminating disposables.

While over half of the trialed stores offered BYOC discounts of HK$1 to HK$5 per cup or 10 percent discount, they did not display such information in the store. Additionally, some staff wrongly claimed that there were no BYOC discounts and charged the drink's original price. 

The Council said the beverage shops should enhance staff training and clearly state the height and volume requirements of the self-brought cup. Relevant information should also be displayed on the shop's social media or website, as well as inside the store.