British pubs are worried they’ll run out of Guinness

CNN — At the Sheephaven Bay pub in London, tucked just behind Camden High Street, Guinness accounts for more than 50% of draft beer sales. “Now it’s a cool drink.” With the sudden increase in demand, Diageo has told some pub owners that it would set allocation limits on Guinness to ensure distribution can last through the holiday season. On Diageo’s fiscal year-end earnings call in July, CEO Debra Crew said Guinness had a 15% increase in global net sales across fiscal year 2024. Crew said that Diageo “recruited more Guinness consumers” through marketing campaigns like the one with Momoa and by partnering with influencers to “co-create content and shape the brand.” In Great Britain, Guinness consumption among women increased by 27% from fiscal years 2022 to 2023, according to Crew. “It is pretty mixed gender-wise.” While drinking at a pub in London’s Shoreditch neighborhood, Harry Evans, 26, told CNN that he loves Guinness because it’s smooth, drinkable and “less gassy” than other beer.