BREWERS and pubs have warned of beer shortages this winter — unless the industry is put on a priority list for gas supplies.
The National Grid’s alert over potential rolling three-hour blackouts caused by gas shortages sparked “calls for certainty of energy supply” from drinks industry chiefs.
1
Business Secretary Jacob Rees Mogg said priority lists will be reserved for energy-intensive users and where there is a threat to life or damages in excess of £50 million.
Jayne Almond, Food and Drink Federation’s director of policy, said: “We urge Ministers to continue to engage with us to address these issues and any potential disruption to the energy supply.”
In the case of blackouts, pubs are working on ways they can stay open, lit by candles or battery lamps.
But a Budweiser spokesman warned that during a power outage the “beer system may not be able to adequately cool the beer lines, meaning draught beer might not be served during the outage period.”
A three-hour power outage could also severely hit smaller brewers.
The British Beer & Pub Association and Campaign for Real Ale warned of a risk to keeping production lines and also a “tremendous loss of stock”.
An all-party parliamentary group inquiry session next week will examine potential shortages.
