Certain brands of gin, tequila and whisky are impossible to find," the manager of the emblematic cafe, Raul Garcia, told Agence France-Presse. This is raising hackles in a country where social life is concentrated outside of the home, and big groups often meet up for tapas or dinner followed by rounds of drinks. Suppliers have struggled with shortages in bottles and cardboard boxes needed to package alcohol, as well as a lack of drivers, containers and trucks to ship it. Other European nations like Britain have also been hit by alcohol shortages, but in Spain the problem is compounded by the country's consumption patterns, he said. 'There are alternatives'Daniel Mettyear, analyst at London-based alcohol industry consultancy IWSR, agreed, saying Spain's supply system "is fragmented and involves many players," which adds to the difficulties.

Source: Manila Times November 14, 2021 19:21 UTC