The British may be short of champagne due to a lack of truck drivers

Britons may be missing popular drinks during the holiday season, including champagne, due to a lack of truck drivers. This was pointed out this week by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA). The association said in a statement that the government must take "immediate action" to address the shortcoming and prevent "empty shelves". It reminded the cabinet that companies in the UK are still struggling, so further action is needed, especially now before Christmas, a key period for the alcoholic beverage sector and other retailers, the association said in an open letter to Transport Minister Grant Shapps. The letter was signed by 49 leading companies, including the British divisions of alcohol producers Laurent-Perrier, Moët Hennessy and Pernod Ricard. The signatories added that transport times are currently up to five times longer than in the same period last year. The arrival time of trucks is "increasingly unpredictable". "As in a particularly competitive industry, the inability to fulfill orders on time can lead to a loss, as these products can easily be replaced by comparable products from other parts of the world," the letter said. The letter warns that ultimately these problems will also affect government tax revenues, along with consumers who are already facing soaring inflation. "While companies are doing their best and are as flexible as they can be, this loss of certainty and predictability is extremely detrimental to their supply chain. Ultimately, also for their end result, consumers and tax revenues, "the letter said. Britain is facing a worsening supply crisis, from unequipped consignments to a shortage of truck drivers, for Brexit and also for COVID-19. The recovery in demand for the reopening of the world's economies following the easing of the new coronavirus pandemic has created supply barriers, while stricter immigration rules and bureaucracy for foreign workers have created huge staffing problems in the UK.