The present invention provides a labelling apparatus for applying labels to containers, comprising a gluing device having a glue roller and a glue-application unit, which is assigned to the glue roller and is intended for applying glue to the glue roller, wherein the glue-application unit has at least one accommodating space for accommodating the glue, and wherein the glue roller and/or the glue-application unit are designed, and arranged in relation to one another, such that glue which is located in the accommodating space is applied to the surface of the glue roller only in one or more sub-regions of the overall extent—as seen in the axial direction of the glue roller—of the surface of the glue roller.