Guinness ‘panic-buying’ hits as pubs fear RUNNING OUT before Christmas – and drinks giant warns of cap on number of kegs
GUINNESS “panic-buying” has pubs fearing they may run out before Christmas as the drinks giant warned of a cap on the number of kegs available.
Pubs may run out of the drink, one of Britain’s most popular pints, following the unprecedented spike in demand for the black stuff.
The number of kegs that pubs can receive have had “allocation limits” placed on them by its owner, drinks giant Diageo, as it aims to manage supplies across the UK.
While it has been quick to reassure drinkers that taps will not run dry, one pub company warned its managers that “quantities may be limited through the festive season“.
The spike in demand is understood to have come from a spell of colder weather and four weekends of rugby union internationals in November.
This may have stretched supply of the Irish stout, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.
The once unfashionable brand has even birthed its own fan base, with so-called “Guinnfluencers” now all over social media.
Stars ranging from Hugh Jackman all the way to Kim Kardashian have shown their love for the drink.
Earlier this year, Diageo’s chief executive Debra Crew said sales of the black stuff among UK women had increased 24 per cent.
The drink also has a special place amongst rugby fans, having been affiliated with the sport for 60-years, and has been the official beer of the Six Nations since 2007.
England, Scotland and Ireland played four home matches in the autumn internationals series, while Wales played three in November.
Pubs were regularly packed out with fans both celebrating and drowning their sorrows.
An email from one large pub company to publicans, seen by The Times, said it while it was managing the situation, “stock allocation” would be in place.
It did however add that regular deliveries of Guinness would take place throughout December, although quantities available for order may be “limited” over the festive period.
Other pub operators have confirmed they have been “restricted”.
One publican said some of his competitors were “panic buying” to prepare for the festive period, further stretching supply.
A spokesman for Diageo said: “Over the past month we have seen exceptional consumer demand for Guinness in Great Britain.
“We have maximised supply and we are working proactively with our customers to manage the distribution to trade as efficiently as possible.
This comes as boozers were outraged after it was announced a dozen popular beers are set to be axed from pubs over Christmas.
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is ditching 11 classic British cask beers in a matter of weeks.
The bizarre decision is said to have a “huge impact” on pubs and pub-goers.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) were the first to spot the delisting, slamming the decision as “another example of a globally owned business wiping out UK brewing heritage”.
The organisation’s Cider and Perry campaigns director and vice chair Gillian Hough fumed: “This loss of consumer choice is the inevitable outcome of a brewing conglomerate run by accountants and the bottom line.
“This is a sad and disappointing decision that puts both the history and the future of British brewing in jeopardy.”