England running dry as factory closures spark 'beer shortage'

A crisis is brewing in England – and it’s a very serious one.

Imagine a British pub without beer. It’s no laughing matter and could become a reality sooner than you think.

Carbon dioxide, the gas used to put bubbles in beer, is in short supply in the United Kingdom due to a number of factory closures across Europe.

The shortage comes after multiple shutdowns of major ammonia plants and bio-ethanol plants across the continent.

"It's used for the tap, but it's also used in the production of beer, and it's been in the production that we've had the problem,” Brigid Simmonds from the British Beer and Pub Association said.

"There are some beers that will be unavailable. We have to sort this out for the long term.

"If the beer you want isn't available, just try another one."

The shortage nightmare could not come at a worse time for England. Between the current heatwave stretching across the country and the FIFA World Cup in full swing, the poms are particularly thirsty at the moment.

The beer shortage is also very real concern for publicans. They're expecting to serve an additional 14 million pints of beer over the next two weeks alone.

"I heard the news yesterday. I am very upset. I heard they was betting the army in to help out. So I am happy it's being sorted,” one punter said.

In addition to beer, the shortage is also affecting soft drinks, some meats, even pre-packed vegetables.

The shortage is also impacting the meat industry, which uses the gas to stun animals before they are slaughtered. It is also frequently used to extend the shelf life of fresh food, such as packaged items.

It’s enough to cause very real concern for publicans – they’re expecting to serve an additional 14 million pints of beer over the next two weeks alone.

The UK food and beverage industry’s best hope is the shortage ends sometime in early July. But communication from CO2 suppliers has been infrequent, at best.