Just weeks before Christmas, Guinness lovers across the UK are facing the prospect of a shortage of their favourite alcohol-free pint. Workers at the drink's key Belfast packaging site have voted to take strike action, threatening to severely disrupt supplies during the crucial festive period.
The Strike Action and Its Timing
At least 90 staff members at the Marshalls Road facility will walk out from December 5 until the early hours of December 13. This eight-day period falls directly in the heart of the Christmas preparation window, a time of peak demand for pubs and supermarkets. The industrial action is a direct response to a dispute over pay disparities with workers at Diageo's Runcorn site in Cheshire.
Trade union Unite has been vocal about the potential consequences, explicitly warning that the UK now faces a Guinness Zero drought this Christmas. They emphasise that the Belfast location is the largest production site for Diageo's highly successful non-alcoholic beer, which has become the UK's best-selling alcohol-free beer.
Union Demands and Company Profits
Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, did not mince words, stating: 'Diageo is one of the largest and most profitable drinks companies in the world. It can fully afford to make workers a decent offer but has chosen to put profits before people.'
This statement is backed by significant financial figures. This year, Diageo reported global net profits of more than $2.5 billion (£1.8 billion), with Guinness Zero cited as a key driver of that remarkable success.
Michael Keenan, a regional officer for Unite, added that the strike will 'severely disrupt production lines'. He urged management to stop disrespecting their members and return to negotiations with an offer that meets the workers' pay expectations.
Diageo's Response and Contingency Plans
In contrast to the union's stark warnings, Diageo has moved to reassure the public. The company confirmed to Metro that they expect no disruption to the supply of Guinness products over Christmas.
They clarified that the Belfast site is primarily a packaging facility, where staff can and bottle beer rather than brew it. A Diageo spokesperson said, 'We have contingency plans in place to manage any potential impact at our can packaging site in Belfast.'
The company expressed disappointment at the ballot result but affirmed its belief that continued engagement is the best path to a resolution that recognises employees while ensuring the site's long-term competitiveness.
This potential supply issue comes just one year after pubs faced having to introduce rationing on Guinness due to 'exceptional demand' for the stout. At that time, Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin noted that Guinness had been widely adopted by younger generations, moving beyond its traditional consumer base.
