Say it ain’t so, Santa!
That’s what it’s looking like as two of the country’s leading beer suppliers – Carlton & United and Lyon Brewery – are reporting severe supply chain problem. This could lead retailers to – gulp – limit how much beer they sell to the traditional beer-thirsty public.
Bars, pubs and clubs are not expected to be affected other than limited choices. Compounding the problem is a shortage of wooden pallets needed for transportation.
“In the lead-up to Christmas we are distributing it fairly to retailers across Australia to help limit shortages,” a Carlton & United spokesperson said in early December.
Owed by Asahi Beer, in Australia it produces Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Great Northern, Pure Blonde, Carlton Dry, Melbourne Bitter, Crown Lager, Cascade Premium Light and Matilda Bay.
Lion Brewery, which also has New Zealand in its distribution territory, produces the Emerson’s Brewery, Speight’s, Steinlager, Lion Red, Lion Brown, Panhead, Little Creatures, Waikato Draught, Black Ice, Rheineck and Lion Ice brands.
Beer-guzzling Aussies are not used to such beer drama. Prices are likely to increase in during the shortage and beer in the state-owned beer stores isn’t exactly cheap to begin with – $12-15 for a 6-pack and $25 for a “carton” (called a case in many other parts of the world).
There is no forecast on how long this shortage would last. Australia Day, the country’s huge nation-wide holiday, the celebration of of 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove. It is Jan. 26.
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