Guinness shortage update issued after stocks run dry and pubs ration drinks
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Guinness will continue to be rationed over Christmas and the New Year, makers of the popular Irish stout have confirmed. A huge surge in popularity for the black stuff has been pubs been slapped with limits on how much Guinness they can buy - leaving some boozers with no choice but to ration customers, while others say they've already completely run dry.
But now, Guinness owner Diageo has confirmed it will continue to limit supplies over Christmas and the New Year, although it expects to go back to normal for the Six Nations rugby tournament, which takes place between January and March. The limits on supply only apply to pubs in England, Wales and Scotland, not Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. A spokesperson said: "We are grateful to all our customers for their engagement, collaboration, and patience over the past three weeks.
"We are producing more Guinness today than we ever have in our 265-year history, and we continue to work closely with customers across our network to manage Guinness distribution as efficiently as possible, ensuring we maximise supply and minimise disruptions for pubs, retailers, and consumers.
"Demand remains at unprecedented levels, and we will continue to allocate supplies on a managed basis until the end of December, before beginning a phased replenishment of the supply chain in January to ensure a return to normal in Great Britain for the Guinness Six Nations.".
The Mirror reported yesterday how one pub has started issuing Guinness rationing cards, with customers only able to buy a pint of Guinness once they've purchased two other drinks first. Katie Davidson, landlady of the Old Ivy House, in Clerkenwell, London, told The Times: "I normally make sure I have seven barrels per week and I would up that in the run-up to Christmas. But I was restricted to only four [by our brewery].".
