Sir, – There have been many words written about the latte levy but not one about the hygiene risk it presents. How and where will a reusable cup be stored? What guidelines will be put in place and how will they be enforced? How do you ensure that the cup is properly washed before next use and not just rinsed or, worse, not at all? Will cafe owners have the right to refuse a cup on sanitary grounds?
All of these points are very relevant to a device about enter a food preparation area whose sanitary past is unknown and outside the control of cafe owners and who may not be held to account if an infection occurs. We need to reflect on the above and have some answers before we proceed further. – Yours, etc,
DEREK MacHUGH,
Bray,
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Co Wicklow.
Sir – Further to Michael Gleeson’s advocacy of the €2 cup deposit scheme (Letters, November 30th), I saw a great example of this in action this year. During the Formula 1 GP in Zandvoort, the Netherlands, a €2 deposit on an already pricey pint of beer ensured that all patrons kept their empties, gathered them and returned them to the bar to ensure that the next pint remained at €7, rather than a more punitive €9. Could be a lesson beyond the latte there? – Yours, etc,
MARTIN DUFFY,
Newtownforbes,
Co Longford.
Sir, – The design of certain kinds of milk bottle suggests that it should not be beyond us to create a paper cup which folds flat. – Yours, etc,
ROBIN HARTE,
Dublin 20.
