Beer fans face battle to get their hands on their favourite tipple amid soaring demand as pubs re-open – with Budweiser and Heineken among the worst affected
- The shortages come following high demand, a lack of drivers, lockdown and Brexit, according to brewery groups, wholesalers and pub landlords
- Budweiser Brewing Group and Heineken are said to be particularly affected
- Premium draught beer including Birra Moretti and Amstel also in short supply
Wholesalers have warned that there may be beer shortages across the UK in the wake of high demand from the hospitality sector and a lack of drivers.
Budweiser Brewing Group and Heineken are said to be particularly affected as pubs reopen for business, according to trade magazine The Grocer.
One multi-convenience retailer told the magazine that a ‘perfect storm’ is brewing with a combination of ‘a lack of drivers, an aluminium shortage and brewers diverting beer into kegs for the reopening of the on-trade season.’
Bar staff serve beer at the The Duke of Kent pub in London on the day it reopened, April 12. Wholesalers have warned that there may be beer shortages across the UK in the wake of high demand from the hospitality sector and a lack of drivers.
Distribution levels are thought to be impacted, and wholesalers have said that they are not getting the stock they need to keep up with demand due to the double hit of coronavirus lockdowns and Brexit.
Premium draught beer including Birra Moretti and Amstel are also in short supply at pubs.
More than ten million adults have returned to pubs in England since they reopened outdoor spaces on April 12 with punters particularly keen to enjoy a draught pint.
Indoor hospitality in England is set to be allowed from May 17, before it is hoped all Covid-19 restrictions will end on June 21.
Pub landlords have warned that the beer shortage issues faced by some landlords are a ‘serious problem that is affecting their ability to trade efficiently and turn a profit’.
Pubs are facing a shortage of premium draught beer including Birra Moretti (left) and Amstel
A spokesperson for Heineken UK told MailOnline that demand ‘for premium pints continues to surpass our most optimistic forecasts.’
‘Despite only 40 per cent of pubs being able to open outdoor areas, we are experiencing similar levels of sales as a normal April with all pubs being open,’ they said.
‘We’ve therefore temporarily limited the amount of Birra Moretti and Amstel that pubs can order. All our breweries are working flat out brewing beer and we’re sourcing additional beer from Europe.
‘What’s clear though, is that the British public have clearly missed their local, cementing the role the great British pub plays in society.’
You won’t need a Covid passport to visit a pub
Boris Johnson has shelved plans to introduce Covid passports in pubs and restaurants this summer.
The Prime Minister has shifted the focus of the controversial scheme away from the hospitality sector, Government sources have said.
Officials have been ordered to concentrate instead on devising a system that will enable foreign travel and the reopening of sectors like theatres, sports venues and nightclubs.
The move follows a furious backlash from Tory MPs and parts of the hospitality industry about the idea of forcing people to produce ‘papers for the pub’.
The PM floated the idea of extending a new ‘Covid certification scheme’ to the hospitality sector last month, saying it ‘should not be totally alien to us’.
And officials suggested that venues deploying the policy could be allowed to relax social distancing rules in return. But with political opposition mounting and the virus in retreat, Mr Johnson is understood to be turning against the idea.
They added that the company has full availability on all other Heineken brands, and that the limiting of some supply is a short term issue, which customers are regularly given updates on.
JD Thumelaire, On-Trade Sales Director, Budweiser Brewing Group UK said that the company is working to meet demand ahead of pubs reopening indoors from May 17.
‘Our teams have been preparing for weeks. Our three UK breweries operate around the clock, and we’re working hard to ensure demand from pubs can be met and fresh kegs can be delivered during this initial re-opening period.
We’ve invested more than £115m in our UK breweries, so we can brew 630 million more pints a year, keeping pubs and bars across the country stocked up.
‘We’re now busy producing all our brands, including Stella Artois, Corona and Camden, to meet surges in demand from our pub partners. This includes extra production, increasing shifts at our breweries and delivering more kegs than forecasted.
‘So far, about 34 per cent of pubs have re-opened. In the first week of re-opening, draught beer consumption vs 2019 is up by almost 12 per cent* L4L, which is amazing considering the same time period in 2019 coincided with the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
‘This shows that people are excited to see loved ones and enjoy a beer together in their local pub again – this is the moment of euphoria we believe will carry on as restrictions continue to ease. Premium and super premium beers, including Stella Artois, Camden Hells and Corona, are driving this growth beyond our expectations.
‘We haven’t seen significant shortages of our brands but we keep in close contact with our customers daily to support them in this dynamic re-opening period.
‘The initiative has led to an increase in Stella Artois sales and additional distribution for the brand.
‘We look forward to seeing people coming together safely once again.’
Boris Johnson has shelved plans to introduce Covid passports in pubs and restaurants
Meanwhile Boris Johnson has shelved plans to introduce Covid passports in pubs and restaurants this summer, shifting the focus of the scheme away from hospitality.
Officials have been ordered to concentrate instead on devising a system that will enable foreign travel and the reopening of sectors like theatres and sports venues.
The move follows a furious backlash from Tory MPs and parts of the hospitality industry about the idea of forcing people to produce ‘papers for the pub’.
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