Beer and Soda May Lose Carbonation As CO2 Supplies Flatten During Pandemic

The pandemic is setting off chain reactions like you wouldn't believe. This one's a domino effect I never would've connected the dots on.

Because of the pandemic, people have been kept home from work and all outside activities have been cancelled. Because the people have been kept home from work and all outside activities have been cancelled, people don't drive as much as the used to. Because people don't drive as much as the used to, gas sales are down 30%. Because gas sales are down 30%, ethanol production, the biggest provider of CO2 to the food service, is down significantly. Because ethanol production, the biggest provider of CO2 to the food service, is down significantly, CO2 is running low.

So, because of the pandemic we might not have bubbles in our beers and sodas.

A letter sent to Vice President Mike Pence last week from the Compressed Gas Association said CO2 production is down 20% and could reach as low as 50% by mid-April. Meat producers are also getting worried, because CO2 is vital to the processing, packaging, preservation and shipment of meat.

A National Beverage Corp spokesperson does not currently anticipate a supply issue.