'No delivery, no beer': Pub owners fear running out of alcohol due to fuel protests preventing deliveries

Pub owners have expressed fears that they will run out of beer because of fuel protests across Ireland, preventing deliveries from happening. 

"No delivery, no beer. We will be OK for today, but will we have enough for the weekend? I don’t know," one publcan told the Irish Independent. 

A number of businesses, particularly in Dublin City Centre, have been affected, with one pub "down to the last keg." 

A staff member at  O’Connell’s pub on Bachelor's Walk provided the update on yesterday. 

He added that pubs in the area have been working together to ensure they are all staying stocked, stating that they were willing to "roll the kegs" if necessary. 

The Grand Social's Tommy O'Brien said that a delivery was expected to be made yesterday, but nothing arrived. 

READ NEXT: DPD suspends deliveries across Ireland amid ongoing fuel protest chaos on roads

"Staff have to be paid, it is absolutely a worry. Hopefully it gets resolved in the next day or two," he added.

Other businesses, such as The Rolling Donut on O'Connell Street, have also been affected by a lack of deliveries. 

Staff members there said that milk, packaging, coffee cups, and other items have not been delivered in three days.

"We have had to buy milk in the shops, which is more expensive. If there is no delivery, it is going to be very bad for business," they said. 

Maurice Doyle, the manager at Banba Toymaster on Mary Street, highlighted that, as well as deliveries not being able to happen, footfall has reduced over the last few days.

"People are just not coming into town. They can’t get in on the bus or Luas," he said. 

The same issue can be seen at The Bakehouse cafe on Bachelor's Walk.

A manager said sales were down almost 30% since the protests started.

However, some businesses have been "blessed" by the protest, as those taking part have been booking in for a night at the Arlington Hotel. 

Manager Mags Shannon said protestors had been in for food and accommodation. 

"I had lads from Louth who came in for breakfast and then came in for dinner last night. This morning we served about 30 breakfasts," she said. 

She added that although this is positive, beer was not being delivered there either, and she's not sure how much longer her current stock will last.

"We are a big premises and have stock, but how long we can last is a guessing game," Mags said. 

The fuel protests are now in their fourth day, with some promising to continue for weeks.

A number of stations across the country have run out of petrol and diesel due to motorists' "panic buying." 

Fuels For Ireland Chief Executive, Kevin McPartlan, has warned that "life-death problems are going to be caused" should the protests continue.