Many Brits are facing a dreaded, unthinkable scenario. And it has nothing to do with their soccer team.
You ready for this? The U.K. is facing a beer shortage.
The news might be hard to swallow in the country with a thriving pub culture ... and during the World Cup, no less. The largest wholesaler in the U.K. is limiting how much beer it's selling to stores and restaurants. Even Heineken confirmed it's experiencing production delays.
The beer supply is fizzling because of a carbon dioxide shortage all over Europe. That gas is used to carbonate drinks. Several ammonia factories in Europe, which produce CO2 as a byproduct, have temporarily shut down for maintenance.
This shortage affects more than beer, though. Coca-Cola confirmed it's halted some of its production for the time being. CO2 is also used to package meat, and some of those facilities are in danger of shutting down. That summer barbecue isn't looking too good right now.
There's good news for some drinkers, though: Not all beers need more CO2 to stay fresh. Live yeast in some ales produces enough gas to keep the drinks fizzy and fresh. And companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev, which makes beers like Stella Artois and Budweiser, claim to have their own CO2 supply.
It's unclear how long exactly the shortage will last. CNN says some industry groups predict it could be a few weeks, which could leave more bars — and glasses — empty this summer.
Additonal reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
