Brewers scrap for CO2 to avert World Cup drink crisis

A shortage of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) across Europe means soft and alcoholic drink makers are scrambling to secure supplies to ensure their products continue to flow.

Many major drink manufacturers are understood to be experiencing disruption - at a time when demand for their drinks is high as warmer summer temperatures combine with football's World Cup in Russia.

Industry bodies confirmed an impact though firms were yet to explain how they were individually affected.

However, a source has suggested the shortage represented the biggest challenge to production in the carbonated drinks sector for more than a decade.

Brigid Simmonds, head of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) which represents brewers and 20,000 UK pubs, responded: "We are aware of a situation affecting the availability of CO2 across Europe, which has now started to impact beer producers in the UK.

"We have recommended our members to continue to liaise with their providers directly where they have concerns over supply.

"We will continue to monitor the situation carefully. However, given the time of year and the World Cup, this situation has arisen at an unfortunate time for the brewing industry."

Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said: "The shortage of CO2 across northern Europe is impacting a wide range of businesses across the food and drink sector.

"Soft drinks producers in the UK are taking active steps to maintain their service to customers including working with their suppliers to mitigate the impact as well as looking at alternative sources."

Gasworld reported that the UK was hardest hit by the lack of food grade liquid CO2 - with only one major producer operating.

It said the problems were largely a consequence of at least five gas producers across northern Europe shutting down plants for maintenance during the spring and early summer months, as they prepare to focus on fertiliser output.

Other sites suffered technical breakdowns, the publication added, which could not have happened at a worse time as they generally pick up gas production to compensate for the start of ammonia-based fertiliser manufacturing.

UK drink demand spikes in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year season before rising again in the summer months - particularly if the weather is hot and there is a World Cup or European championships taking place.

It was estimated by the BBPA that 14 million more pints than usual would be drunk on Monday night alone, when England beat Tunisia 2-1 in their first group game of the World Cup.