A gas shortage could crunch beer bottles too

Europe’s glass industry relies heavily on gas, which is used to heat furnaces to 1,400 degrees Celsius to melt shards and other ingredients (Photo: AFP) — Europe’s glass industry relies heavily on gas, which is used to heat furnaces to 1,400 degrees Celsius to melt shards and other ingredients (Photo: AFP)

wsj

3 min read . Updated: 23 Aug 2022, 06:32 PM IST Carol Ryan, The Wall Street Journal

Glass manufacturers want an exemption if Europe needs to ration gas this winter. Without one, beer and liquor companies will find it even harder and costlier to get bottles.

Ever since bars and restaurants reopened after pandemic lockdowns, Europe’s glass furnaces have struggled to keep up with demand for bottles. Now tensions with the Kremlin could add to the crunch.