Events in the Rhine-Main region, be it Christmas markets, rock concerts or notch events, have become indispensable for the eye-catching beverage cans with cider drinks from the company "Bembel with Care".

They have become a cult drink.

But once the contents have been enjoyed, the cans usually end up on the side of the road or somewhere in the countryside, because they are deposit-free, because cider drinks, even if they are sold in a can, are considered wine under the Packaging Act on which no deposit is levied.

But that should change now.

The “Bembel with Care” brand comes from Birkenau in the Odenwald and is now environmentally friendly.

Because from now on a deposit will be charged on the beverage cans.

What looks like a special environmental commitment, however, only anticipates a regulation that will soon apply anyway.

Because from January 1, 2022, all beverage cans, even if they contain a wine drink, will be subject to a deposit of 25 cents.

Deposit-free cans and bottles that are already in circulation can still be sold until June next year.

Compulsory deposit required for cider cans

The company has been demanding this deposit for years, says a company spokeswoman for the FAZ. And not without reason, because the empty beverage cans that were scattered around after major events and parties gnawed at the otherwise positive image of the relatively young brand. If the cans were given a deposit, they would be returned more often instead of being thrown away, the spokeswoman said. The federal government has already requested an earlier compulsory deposit for the cider cans, but so far, unfortunately, to no avail.

Action was called for, because with the number of cans sold, currently around 15 million per year according to the company, the mountain of rubbish also grew.

Not even Corona slowed it down, because canned cider is mainly offered in shopping markets, and they were also open during the lockdown.

"We grow from year to year," says the spokeswoman.

The new compulsory deposit for the cans, including a new mulled wine made from apple wine, which has been offered for the first time since this autumn, applies immediately, but it could well be that retailers sell off cans of the cult drink that are still free of deposit.

Eventful company history

Although the company was only founded in 2007, “Bembel with Care” can look back on an extraordinary and eventful company history. Company founder Benedikt Kuhn wanted cider, made from apples from the region, to help young people in particular to blossom again. It all started in the classic way in his parents' garage in a Heppenheim district, where he had bembels, T-shirts and glasses printed with a logo he had designed. A year later there was a cooperation with the Kramer press, because Kuhn now also wanted to sell cider. Instead of filling the cider in bottles as usual, Kuhn opted for cans from 0.5 liter to 5 liter party kegs. The cider was available straight, with cola or as a spritzer with mineral water, later also with cherry and quince juice.

Kuhn's career came to an abrupt end in May of last year when he posted a photo on his Instagram channel “Apfelweinbaron” on the anniversary of the end of the World War, where he wore the Iron Cross and wrote that this day was “not a day of liberation”.

A view that many so-called Reich citizens also share.

The public outrage was great, several supermarkets imposed an order freeze or, like Rewe, banned the products from the range immediately.

The Kramer press, which produced and bottled the cider, ended its collaboration with Kuhn.

This then gave the trademark rights to the press and withdrew from the business.

Since that time, the managing director has been the owner of the winery, Stefan Krämer.