Man goes to Total Wine & More for a beer keg. Then he sees what it costs these days: ‘You’ll get your deposit back’

Buying a keg of beer for a backyard party costs far more than it did decades ago. One TikToker claimed many people are confused about what they’re actually paying for.

Creator @recklessjim has more than 37,900 views after rechecking the price of beer kegs. The video followed an earlier post where viewers insisted the listed keg price included a refundable deposit. Jim decided to investigate the claim himself.

Does the Price of a Beer Keg Include the Deposit?

Jim said he visited a Total Wine & More store and asked a manager to explain how keg pricing works.

He said the manager told him the listed price does not include the refundable keg deposit.

For Budweiser, he said the cost breakdown included $164 for the beer and a $35 refundable keg deposit.

That brings the total to $199 upfront. Customers receive the deposit back when they return the empty keg.

Jim added that he forgot to ask whether customers returning a keg pay the difference or receive a credit.

Why Do Stores Charge a Keg Deposit?

The deposit covers the stainless-steel keg itself and not the beer inside.

Breweries reuse kegs for years and consider them the most valuable pieces of equipment. The deposit encourages customers to return them instead of keeping or discarding them.

The deposit is typically refundable once the keg comes back in good condition. Deposit amounts vary by retailer and state. Many stores charge between $20 and $50 depending on the keg size and local policies.

Why Has Beer Become So Expensive?

Beer prices have climbed steadily over the past several years.

Brewers have faced higher costs for aluminum, steel, barley, hops, transportation, fuel, labor, and refrigeration. Those increases have filtered down to consumers. Everything from six-packs to full-size kegs is more expensive than two decades ago.

Industry groups have also noted that rising production and distribution costs continue to put pressure on retail beer prices.

How Is Inflation Affecting Everyday Americans?

Beer is only one example of a broader trend.

Americans have watched the price of everything rise faster than many household incomes. Inflation has cooled from its recent peak. Yet many everyday items remain significantly more expensive than they were before 2020.

Purchases that once seemed affordable often come with a price shock today.

People Reminisce About The Old Days

Many commenters focused on how dramatically prices have changed over the decades.

One viewer recalled much lower prices in the 1970s.

“In the late 70s I could get a keg of Blue Ribbon for about 25 bucks,” stated @Michael Passarella.

Another remembered paying far less during the early 1990s.

“1992 $50 bucks for a keg of beer coors Budweiser and moosehead was $60 deposit was $25 bucks and u got it back when u returned the empty keg,” added another user.

Jim responded to those comments with a simple reflection: “It was beautiful man.”

@recklessjim #greenscreen @Total Wine & More #keg #kegparty #beers ♬ original sound – Reckless Jim?? ? ? ??

Why Did the Video Have A Strong Reaction?

Jim’s video started as a fact check about keg deposits. It quickly became a conversation about rising prices and how much everyday purchases have changed over time.

The biggest surprise wasn’t the refundable deposit. It was realizing that something which once cost a few dozen dollars now requires nearly $200 upfront. This is before the party even begins.

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