British pubs are running out of beer

After the unexpectedly great thirst of the first guests, beer is slowly running out in British pubs. The demand in the first few weeks "exceeded all forecasts," said the head of the largest pub chain Mitchell & Butlers, Phil Urban, the "Financial Times". "The suppliers are not able to catch up quickly enough." They have now started to bring their own stocks to the most popular pubs. The sunny weather of the past few weeks and the relaxed contact restrictions have since ensured full beer gardens even on many evenings during the week. According to an analysis by Oxford Market Watch, sales in the first week of the easing in England were almost twelve percent above the same period in 2019 - although so far only outdoor restaurants are allowed to open. The Budweiser Brewing Group UK & Ireland, which produces the Stella Artois and Camden Hells beers served in many pubs, is currently brewing around the clock, according to the Financial Times report. Smaller, independent breweries, on the other hand, often do not have enough staff to ramp up their production on a massive scale. In Great Britain, the corona situation has now eased significantly thanks to a long, consistent lockdown and the well-advanced vaccination campaign. More than half of the population has already been vaccinated once, a quarter even completely. The seven-day incidence was most recently around 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In England and Wales, pubs and restaurants can once again receive guests outside, and in Scotland even inside until the evening. Shops, gyms, hairdressers and zoos have largely reopened. However, indoor meetings and trips abroad will remain prohibited until at least mid-May. Then, according to reports, people would be able to travel abroad again under strict conditions. The government wants to announce in the coming week that the previous travel ban will be lifted on May 17th, reported the Times and Telegraph, citing government circles.