No Fizz, No Fun For Brits As UK Could Run Out Of Beer And Chicken Soon. Here's Why

Last Updated:April 16, 2026, 18:30 IST

UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle sought to reassure the public, saying CO2 supplies were “not a concern for our economy” at present.

British beer drinkers and football fans may want to enjoy their pints while they can. The UK government is quietly preparing contingency plans over a possible carbon dioxide shortage- a supply crunch that could affect everything from fizzy beer to supermarket chicken- as disruption around the Strait of Hormuz threatens global supply chains just weeks before the World Cup begins on June 11.

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Carbon dioxide is critical to Britain’s food and healthcare systems as it is used in meat processing, helping stun pigs and chickens before slaughter and is essential for packaging products such as meat, salads and baked goods to extend shelf life. It is also used in hospitals for surgical procedures and MRI scans, while parts of the energy sector rely on it for cooling systems. In short, a shortage would hit far more than pubs.

What Has UK Government Said?

UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle sought to reassure the public, saying CO2 supplies were “not a concern for our economy" at present. However, he added that if the situation changes, the government would make an announcement. Behind the scenes, emergency planning is already under way, as per reports.

What Is ‘Exercise Turnstone’?

According to reports first published by The Times, the government’s Cobra emergency committee has been running a contingency exercise known as “Exercise Turnstone". The scenario reportedly examines what would happen if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed through June, tensions between the United States and Iran continued and one of Britain’s major CO2 production plants suffered a breakdown at the same time.

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How Could Beer And Chicken Be Affected?

A prolonged shortage of CO2 could disrupt poultry and pork production, where the gas is widely used in processing. It could also impact packaged food supplies and carbonated drinks, including beer. For consumers, that could mean tighter supplies, higher prices, or delays reaching supermarket shelves.

What Are Retailers Saying?

Tesco Chief Executive Ken Murphy said the supermarket had not yet seen any CO2-related disruption and that suppliers had not raised concerns so far. He added that lessons learned from Covid-era shortages and Brexit-related disruption had helped retailers build more flexible supply chains.

News world No Fizz, No Fun For Brits As UK Could Run Out Of Beer And Chicken Soon. Here's Why

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