Portugal's Volta system: restaurants cannot charge 10‑cent deposit

Portugal's Volta deposit and reimbursement scheme (SDR) requires a 10‑cent charge only when a beverage container leaves the premises. If a drink is consumed on‑site in a restaurant or café, the establishment must bear the deposit and cannot pass the fee to the customer.

For takeaway orders, delivery, pre‑payment or self‑service where the container is taken away, the 10‑cent deposit must be added separately to the bill. Consumers can reclaim the amount by returning the empty container to an authorised collection point. The system, launched in April, has already recorded more than 55 million containers returned, but confusion persists, prompting guidance on how to dispute improper charges through the venue's complaint book or online platform.