Wholesalers must collect from package store a 5 cent ($0.05) surcharge on every individual nip sold to a package store. The package store must factor this fee into their cost to the customer. Wholesalers must save the money collected from the surcharge. Twice a year, on April 1 and October 1, the wholesalers must return the money collected during the preceding six month period to each municipality where the nip sales occurred. Wholesalers must report the amount sent to municipalities to Liquor Control. Municipalities should use the funds to enact environmental protection and improvement measures. Note that Liquor Control has no authority over how the money is spent by municipalities.
This surcharge does not return directly back to the consumer like a bottle deposit. The consumer cannot return a nip for a refund of the 5 cent surcharge.
NOTE: This is not the same as the 10 cent can and bottle deposit charged on non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. That fee may be returned to the customer by returning the cans and bottles to a redemption center. The 10 cent fee is from the “Bottle Bill” and regulated by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
To view more information or ask a question about the nip surcharge, please visit DEEP's website.