smart outfits will liase with each other so that everyone has the same deposit scheme. then it doesnt matter where you go. and they shouldnt get in trouble for price fixing because, after all they give you the money back...
Erm, not really, since the retail store doesn't lose anything if the keg goes awol. That's free market right there... if 3 stores try to cooperate, the 4th will halve the deposit. There is no incentive for retail stores to cooperate in this way and every incentive to price each other out.