CHRISTMAS BEER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24142, 8 December 1941, Page 6

CHRISTMAS BEER

SHORTAGE OF BOTTLES

SUPPLIES BEING RATIONED While there is plenty of beer available, the public will be handicapped in obtaining its Christmas supply this year because of a serious shortage of bottles. This has resulted in breweries rationing all bottled beer orders from merchants and hotels.

Tho summer heat and the holiday season usually produce in November and December a demand for bottled beer about double that of the usual monthly requirements. In the past, the glass manufacturers have been able to meet this demand by building up reserve stocks of bottles. But the war and import restrictions have altered the position. To meet the needs of New Zealand's fighting forces, large quantities of bottles of beer have been sent overseas, correspondingly reducing bottle stocks in the Dominion. These bottles are not being returned nor are local stocks being augmented by the importing of overseas brands of beer. In addition, through their inability to obtain supplies, many spirit drinkers have now changed over to beer so that local consumption of the latter beverage has increased.

Formerly the glass manufacturers could provide all New Zealand's beer bottle requirements in six months. Now, according to an official, they are working all the time and making more bottles than ever before, but the demand is still unsatisfied. It is hoped, however, that the position will improve in the new year. Under the rationing system breweries are allowing customers to have during tho November-December period onethird of their bottled beer deliveries during the six months, April to September last. .Because the NovemberDecember demand is about twice that of normal months and because of the other factors mentioned, it would appear that merchants and hotels will receive less than half their requirements. The position will be made more acute, however, through the fact that many merchants disposed of a large portion of their November-December quota before they were aware that they were being rationed. While admitting the rationing, a brewery representative said on Saturday that the public need fear no beer shortage as stocks were ample. If the worst came to the worst and they could not obtain bottled supplies, people could bring their own containers and get draught beer.