Fears of beer shortage in pubs ahead of indoor reopening as brewers struggle with demand
PUBS face a beer shortage as they plan to reopen for indoor service from tomorrow, the boss of Young's has warned.
Around 45,000 pubs will welcome back customers indoors for the first time in more than five months as coronavirus restrictions are eased.
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It comes after pubs were allowed to reopen for outdoor service on April 12 - but just 40% of them were able to do so due to a lack of outdoor space.
Patrick Dardis, chief executive of Young’s, told he has directly lobbied major brewers including Heineken and InBev to step up production after unexpected demand following the initial reopening.
It led to a shortage of beers including Amstel and Birra Morretti, and forced owner Heineken to limit deliveries of the latter to three kegs a week.
Heineken has since increased the limit to four kegs a week per pub.
What rules are in place at the pub?
THE rules Brits need to stick to while at their local are more relaxed compared to when pubs were last open - but some restrictions will remain in place.
The 10pm curfew has been scrapped, and punters won't have to buy a scotch egg or any other food to get served alcohol.
However, social distancing will remain in place at least until autumn, with measures set to be reconsidered in the summer when more people are vaccinated.
Boozers will have to stick to the “rule of six” limits, while abiding to two-metre distancing from others.
Pub-goers aged 16 and over have to check in to NHS Test and Trace or provide their contact details to staff.
Customers must also order, eat and drink while seated at a table and if they head to the toilet or elsewhere, then face masks must be worn, unless exempt.
This is expected to stay all summer as a compromise for the early reopening.
Breweries were also working through the night to keep up with demand ahead of the first bank holiday weekend in May.
Mr Dardis said: "I wrote to all the CEOs of all the brewers saying that ‘we’ve been through enough now, we are at the end of tunnel and the last thing we need is a problem with supply, so get your act together and brew like you’ve never brewed before', because it’s just not acceptable.
"As soon as the pubs start again we expect supply to be there.";
Mr Dardis said there had been a “significant improvement” in supply in recent days – partly helped by poor weather – but warned that “we’re not out of the woods yet”.
The British Beer & Pub Association estimates that 45,000 pubs will reopen on Monday, serving around 3million pints.
However, it added that 2,000 pubs will remain closed due social distancing rules, no standing drinking and the table service requirement.
Heineken told The Sun it's "brewing at maximum capacity" and that it's increased volume to an extra 525million pints per year.
While Budweiser Brewing Group, the UK & Ireland business of AB InBev, told The Sun its teams "have been preparing for weeks".
Jean-David Thumelaire, its on-trade sales director, said: "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 reopening period.
"We’ve invested more than £115million in our UK breweries, so we can brew 630million more pints a year, keeping pubs and bars across the country stocked up.
"We’re now busy producing all our brands, including Stella Artois, Budweiser and Corona, to meet surges in demand from our pub partners."
The warning comes as Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday that England can move into phase three of his roadmap out of lockdown as planned.
Customers will still have to follow a strict set of rules when pubs reopen for indoor service, including wearing a mask when not sat at a table.
Wetherspoons plans to reopen 860 pubs on Monday, with the full menu making a return.
While another 1,848 Greene King pubs will welcome back customers from the same date.
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Saunas and spas have also been given the green light to reopen from Monday, May 17.
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Up to 10,000 fans will be allowed in stadiums to watch big sporting events for the first time in over a year.
Meanwhile, two households will be allowed to mix indoors and overnight, as long as they follow the rule of six.