世界盃正酣 英國啤酒卻要“斷供”

World Cup barbecues may be under threat as beers, fizzy drinks and meat producers warn of potential shortages caused by a lack of CO2.

由於二氧化碳供應不足，啤酒、碳酸飲料和肉類製造商警告說這些商品都可能面臨短缺，世界盃燒烤野餐可能辦不起來了。

The British Retail Consortium has written to major retailers informing them that drinks and meat supplies could be affected as at least one UK gas supplier has had to ration orders.

英國零售商協會給幾家大型零售商發信說，由於至少一家英國氣體供應商不得不限量供應，飲料和肉類食品的供應都將受到影響。

The shortages come as many prepare to party while they follow England’s progress in the football World Cup in Russia. Sales of alcohol and soft drinks are also expected to be boosted after the World Cup by what is forecast to be a long hot summer running through until August.

很多球迷正準備開派對慶祝英格蘭隊在俄羅斯世界盃的戰績之時，卻遭遇派對飲品和食品的短缺。據預報稱，今年英國的夏天漫長而炎熱，這種天氣狀況將持續到八月底，這也將在世界盃後刺激酒精飲品和軟飲料的銷量。

It is understood that Most drinks manufacturers hold at least two weeks stock, while retailers are likely to hold more. But retailers have expressed concerns that stocks of fizzy drinks could run short in a few days during one of their busiest times of the year.

據稱，大多數飲料製造商有至少兩週的庫存，零售商的庫存可能更多。但在全年的這一銷售旺季，零售商擔心碳酸飲料的庫存可能幾天就會賣完。

Tesco’s website already showed a number of its own-label fizzy drinks were out of stock on Tuesday and its website warned of “a supply issue”. Morrisons said some Sprite and R Whites products were out of stock due to “limited supply”.

在上週二，樂購網站就顯示，其自有品牌的碳酸飲料已經售罄。網站還提醒這類商品有“供應問題”。莫里森超市稱，由於“供應受限”，雪碧和R Whites等產品已脫銷。

One industry source said Britvic, which also produces Pepsi and R Whites in the UK, and Heineken were already being affected. Another said one small brewer, thought to be Brewdog, had also been hit.

一位業內人士稱，英國軟飲料生產商Britvic和荷蘭啤酒品牌喜力也受到影響。英國的百事可樂和R White就是由Britvic公司生產的。還有人說一家小的生產商，據稱是釀酒狗啤酒，也受到影響。

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We are aware of a situation affecting the availability of CO2 across Europe, which has now started to impact beer producers in the UK.

英國啤酒和酒館協會會長布麗吉德-賽孟茲說：“我們注意到歐洲的二氧化碳產量受到影響，現在也開始波及到英國的啤酒生產商。”

“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.”

“我們將繼續密切監控目前的狀況。然而，由於正值酷暑，又逢世界盃，供應短缺出現在這種時候對釀酒行業來說不太妙。”

Retailers told the Guardian that there were also fears about fresh food supplies as CO2 is used in packing fresh meat and salads, as well as in the slaughtering process for poultry and pigs.

零售商告訴《衛報》稱，他們擔心新鮮食品的供應也會受到影響，因爲新鮮肉類和沙拉的包裝、以及家禽和生豬的屠宰也會使用二氧化碳。

“At the moment we are looking at ways to keep the supply chain moving and we have not heard that any of our members have stopped production,” said Fiona Steiger, deputy director of the British Meat Processors Association.

英國肉類加工協會副會長菲奧娜-斯泰爾格說：“現在我們正想辦法維持供應鏈正常運轉，我們還沒聽說哪家會員單位停產。”

Trade journal Gas World said the UK was hit particularly hard as only one major CO2 plant was operating earlier this week and imports from the continent had been affected by shut-downs in Benelux and France. It said shortages were expected to continue throughout this month.

行業雜誌《氣體世界》稱，英國受危機的影響特別大，最近仍在運轉的英國二氧化碳大廠僅有一家，由於比荷盧經濟聯盟及法國工廠停產，從歐洲大陸的進口也受到影響。這種影響將持續到月底。

Gasworld says most food-grade CO2 comes from ammonia plants that manufacture fertilizer, which normally slow down production in the summer months.

《氣體世界》稱，大多數食品級的二氧化碳都來自於生產肥料的氨氣廠，這些工廠通常會在夏季減產。

It said well known soft drinks brands were “desperate to obtain product”.

該刊物指出，一些著名的軟飲料品牌正“急於獲取產品”。

It couldn’t come at a worse time, as British soccer fans are expected to consume an extra 14 million pints of beer over the next two weeks thanks to the 2018 World Cup.

供應不足出現在世界盃期間簡直太糟糕了。根據預測，未來兩週英國球迷較平時將多喝1400萬品脫啤酒。

“Who’s going to watch the World Cup if there’s no beer?!” one fan in the UK told Global News.

一位英國球迷在接受《環球新聞》採訪時說：“沒有啤酒還怎麼看球啊？”

“Obviously with the World Cup on, nobody wants to be running out with a pub full of hopefully happy England fans,” Pub owner Mark O’Neill said.

酒吧老闆馬克-奧尼爾說：“顯然在世界盃期間，酒吧裏到處都是充滿希望又興高采烈的英格蘭球迷，這時候沒有啤酒再糟糕不過了。”

The news also comes as reports that Moscow restaurants are being drunk dry in the midst of the World Cup.

還有報道說，世界盃期間，莫斯科飯館的啤酒也被喝光了。

“We just didn’t think they would only want beer,” said one waiter at a upscale eatery in central Moscow, who asked not to be identified for fear of scaring off future customers.

莫斯科中部一家高檔餐廳的服務員說：“我們沒想到他們只點啤酒喝。”因爲怕嚇跑顧客，他要求不要透露餐館信息。

The waiter said his restaurant ran out of draft lager on Monday and deliveries are taking longer than usual, at least 24 hours, because suppliers’ stocks are also running low.

這位服務員說，上週一店裏的生啤就賣光了，上酒也比平時慢，這種狀況持續了至少一整天。因爲供應商也快沒貨了。

“There are really a lot of people in Moscow … and they are all drinking,” he said. “It’s hot, and it’s football.”

他說：“莫斯科人太多了，他們都要喝酒。天熱，又要看世界盃。”