World Cup beer crisis as Moscow bars run dry and British pubs face CO2 shortage

World Cup supporters are drinking Russia dry as it has been revealed that Moscow bars are running out of beer.

Thirsty match-goers have shocked the hosts with their consumption and many places are now very low on stock.

Beer sales in Russia have fallen by about a third in recent years due to rising duties and harsher restrictions on advertising and outlets seem underprepared for this rise in demand.

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One waiter, who works in central Moscow and wanted to remain anonymous, told the New York Post that his establishment totally ran dry on Monday.

“We just didn’t think they would only want beer,” he said. “There are really a lot of people in Moscow… and they are all drinking,” he said. “It’s hot, and it’s football.”

A lack of beer is not just an issue in Russia as a shortage of CO2 is also leading to a lack of booze back home.

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The UK has only two plants producing carbon dioxide and one is closed for maintenance at the worst possible time with the World Cup and barbecue season in full swing.

England play their second Group G match on Sunday afternoon against Panama and pubs up and down the country will be packed to the rafters with Three Lions fans.

However, the lack of gas is a real issue as it is needed to deliver beer via pumps and puts the fizz into soft drinks as well as canned and bottled beers.

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The UK supply problem has been compounded by the news that at least five CO2 producers across northern Europe are offline, according to Gasworld.

They report that carbonated drinks producers were now “desperate” amid the worst CO2 supply crisis for decades.