Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Extreme weather could trigger a global beer shortage that causes prices to skyrocket worldwide

Rising global temperatures affect not only our safety but what we eat and drink as well.
In recent years, scientists have uncovered a link between climate change and our consumption of popular items like wine and coffee. Now, a coming study from the University of East Anglia has found a link between extreme weather and how much beer we drink. 

Instead of attempting to predict future events, the researchers asked themselves a question: What would happen to the beer industry tomorrow if it experienced the most severe form of drought or heat anticipated by scientists in the coming years? 

According to the researchers, whose findings will appear in Nature Plants, these extreme weather conditions could spur a 16% decline in global beer consumption. That's equivalent to 29 billion liters, or the amount of beer consumed annually in the US. 

The issue is one of supply, not demand. In the event of a modern climate-related disaster, farmers could have trouble producing barley — the main ingredient in beer. 

 "We're not writing this piece to encourage people to drink more today than they would tomorrow," Guan said. "What we're saying is that ... if people still want to have a pint of beer while they watch football, we have to do something about climate change." 

https://www.businessinsider.com/extreme-weather-climate-change-global-beer-shortage-2018-10

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