One Country's Worst Nightmare

Dec 20, 10:29 am ET

BERLIN (Reuters) - German drinkers could be about to face their worst nightmare -- a beer shortage.

The potential trickle in the supply of the nation's favorite tipple is due to new government regulations restricting deposits of disposable cans and bottles which takes effect in January. Retailers say it may mean there may not be enough beer in shops.

The government is imposing charges on non-reusable containers because it says the percentage of recycled cans and bottles has fallen below a 72 percent minimum target set in 1997.

"We may not have enough beer available to meet the demand in January," Jan Holzweissig, spokesman for the German retailers' association, told Reuters. "A lot of stores are planning to remove beer and other drinks in disposable containers off their shelves next month because of the new rules."

Shops don't have any room to store the empty cans and bottles, he added.

The government is introducing a deposit of 25 cents in January for small non-refillable cans and bottles, and 50 cents for larger containers.

Deposits will be returned when the bottles and cans are returned. The measure is designed to counter a growing trend toward non-reusable containers.

"Will there be enough beer?" asked Germany's best-selling daily in bold letters on its front page on Thursday.

"Large retailers are planning to stop selling canned drinks altogether. It could mean that beer in returnable bottles will be in short supply."

It's a scary thought for Germans.

Germany is the world's leading producer of beer with some 1,200 breweries nationwide.

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2002