A cross-industry platform has been created to helped brewers and pubs manage the disposal of the beer which is unsellable after spending weeks sat in cellars.

Set up by the British Beer & Pub Association, ReturnYourBeer.co.uk allows licensees to gain permission from the brand owner to destroy the beer and cider in an environmentally friendly manner in compliance with water authorities.

The site will also allow them to record the destruction, enabling duty to be claimed back by brewers and passed back on to the pubs.

By using the platform, pubs, hotels, bars and clubs will be able to safely destroy draught beer and cider which has spoiled during the coronavirus closure, as well as freeing up space for fresh deliveries ahead of reopening.

As many as 70 million pints of beer will need to be destroyed at British pubs with tens of millions of pounds in excise duty needing to be reclaimed.

BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: "We're encouraging businesses with spoiled beer they need to destroy to visit ReturnYourBeer.co.uk and pre-register.

"The platform will provide guidance and instructions necessary to destroy beer, as well as crucially recording that destruction to enable duty to be claimed back in it.

"We estimate this could be worth tens of millions pounds of credit flowing back to pubs and the wider trade, which is crucial at this hugely challenging time."

Originally developed by Budweiser, the platform has seen leading brewers such as Heineken, Molson Coors, Carlsberg, St Austell and Adnams sign up.