In Australia there is growing concern about a possible shortage of beer at Christmas time.
As the Australian newspaper reported on Friday, the country's two largest breweries have delivery problems.
"Australia woke up this morning with gloomy news: There is a nationwide beer shortage with no visible end," said a comment in the newspaper.
Till Fähnders
Political Correspondent for Southeast Asia.
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The author recalled, among other things, the year 1975, when brewery workers went on strike in the Advent season to raise wages, "when the weather and seasonal festivities made it necessary to quench the agonizing thirst". He was alluding to the fact that at Christmas in the southern hemisphere there are often high summer temperatures. "Have we not suffered enough?" The author asked in view of the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
According to the newspaper, the reason for the delivery problems is a global shortage of wooden pallets that are needed to transport beverage bottles and cans, as well as bottlenecks in beer imports due to the corona pandemic.
The brewery companies Lion as well as Carlton and United Breweries, which produce and also import some of the most famous beer brands in the country, have warned customers and middlemen about "challenges".
Lion is even forced to cease production of some brands for the time being.
Delivery limits have also been introduced for other products, including in particular the Corona beer brand from Mexico, which has been very popular in Australia not just since the pandemic.
Only 20 cartons of this beer per week are to be ordered per beverage trade.