Why America is running out of aluminum cans

[Ohiogal]

San Francisco(CNN Business) A shortage of one of the most mundane items in daily life -- the humble aluminum can -- means beer fans are likely to find that some of their favorite brews are out of stock right now.

(snip)

One major factor is the coronavirus and changing habits related to it. Beer that would have ended up in kegs at restaurants and bars has shifted, along with other kinds of alcohol, to being sold in retail stores and through online channels and consumed at home -- often in cans. The boom in pantry loading in the spring has compounded the problem by throwing brewer supply chains out of whack.

(snip)

Another factor: the White Claw-driven hard seltzer trend. The fervor for those drinks has spurred shortages in the tall, slim varietals of the 12-ounce can, which has become a popular format for alcoholic sparkling seltzers, light beer and some craft brands.

More

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/07/22/business/beer-shortage-aluminum-can/index.html

**** I used to like Yuengling until I found out the owners are big Trump donors. Haven’t bought any since.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Same here on the Yuengling. Here's another version of that story.

If you, like me, can't find Fresca anywhere, this is why. https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/6/30/21308218/coronavirus-covid-pandemic-business-supply-cans-soft-drinks-soda-fresca-steinberg?utm_campaign=chicago.suntimes&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via
@SunTimes

Link to tweet

Virus mystery: The case of the missing Fresca
The popular diet soda vanished along with toilet paper. Unlike TP, it hasn’t come back. Why?

By Neil Steinberg Jun 30, 2020, 12:09pm CDT

It is not the most pressing question.

Let’s get that said right away.

Among the clamor of impassioned debates and thorny controversies, solving this particular puzzle is not high on anybody’s list. Not even mine, which is why through April, May and the first half of June, I stifled my curiosity, certain that even asking is the definition of privilege.

Opinion
The world in chaos — sirens screaming through the streets, a raging pandemic, flames of unrest licking the foundations of our deeply racist society, jobs shattered, the helm spinning. Envision a tumultuous landscape, smoke billowing, thick with cops in riot gear battling protesters waving signs, all noise and conflict and commotion.

I raise a finger and clear my throat, “A-hem!,” and it somehow magically falls still and silent. All heads — sweaty, masked, soot-stained — swivel in my direction, and I inquire:

“What happened to Fresca?”

{snip}

[Ohiogal]

3. Wow

That corporate doublespeak took the prize!

[NCjack]

7. Perhaps the super wealthy learned that a Fresca every hour prevents Covid-19, and

Jared Kushner used federal money to buy all Fresca stored in warehouses and the production for the next 10 years. He cornered the market.

[Ohiogal]

11. I wouldn't put it past him

[SharonAnn]

9. I've been trying to find Fresca for ages. Really miss it.

[MissB]

15. Couldn't get it for a couple of weeks

But it was filled on my curbside pickup list this morning. I kinda missed it.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Can't sell it in plastic bottles like soda? Hmm

[Ohiogal]

5. Beer in plastic bottles?

[Liberal In Texas]

8. Glass.

[Omaha Steve]

13. Beer does get sold in plastic bottles

In sports stadiums etc. where they don't want broken glass.

[frazzled]

4. I can't even think of the last time I bought something in an aluminum can

We don't drink sodas much at all, and for beer (not huge consumers) we buy in glass bottles; we drink a lot of mineral water, but also in glass bottles (need my Pellegrino).

Oh, that made me remember: once in a blue moon, when we used to get a sandwich for lunch at a deli (miss you, Graziano's), we'd sometimes buy a can of San Pellegrino blood orange or another flavor.

[FakeNoose]

12. I know! same here

I never buy soda pop or beer in aluminum cans. It would have to be an emergency of some kind, or I don't believe I'd ever do it. If I'm handed a beverage in a can from another person, I will always ask for a drinking glass to pour it into.

[Hotler]

19. I buy all my beer and soda in cans because,

they don't recycle glass here even if you put it in the recycle curb pickup. They say it breaks and it is to hard to separate the broken colors. They use it to line the bottom of landfills instead of gravel rock. I save all my cans and take them to the metals recycle once a month.

[frazzled]

20. Oh, we have glass recycling

Or at least officially: who knows what happens to it after it leaves the building.

[Texaswitchy]

6. I wonder what the price of aluminum cans are now.

We have big sacks of them.

[hlthe2b]

10. Convenient sure, but I think beer (and most else) tastes TERRIBLE in aluminum cans

As with most foods and drink products, I'd gladly deal with the inconvenience of collecting and returning glass bottles. I already do with milk (and yes, I know that can be difficult for the harried and for the elderly).

Everything, though tastes and stores better in glass.

[aka-chmeee]

17. To be honest

I sometimes experience nostalgia for beer in steel cans.

[Wellstone ruled]

14. Fresca is only canned

at certain times of year.

[GoCubsGo]

16. Well, I have several bags of them in my garage, waiting for aluminum prices to go back up.

I can only imagine how many are in the landfills right now, since people aren't bothering to recycle.

[jcgoldie]

18. Sorry guys...

The Trump administration has caused my consumption to increase dramatically. A guy can't live on vodka alone!

The clerks at the grocery have looked at my cart on more than one occasion at checkout and remarked... "Oh someone's having a party can I come?" I say, "Sure you can but you'll have to BYOB this is all for me tonight!"