Football fans aiming to hit the bar as England and Wales hit the back of the net could be out of luck.
Beer lovers may find Britain’s boozers as dry as Qatar, where the World Cup kicks off on November 20, because of a strike by delivery drivers.
Unions have issued a bitter warning of a draught drought ahead a round of walkouts over pay by drivers working for logistics giant GXO.
Unite claims the strikes, from October 31 to November 4, will hamper pubs and bars from filling cellars for the expected flood of fans to watch the matches.
The union said GXO’s drivers make around 40% of beer deliveries.
It claims the strikes will impact beer supplied by major breweries such as Heineken and Shepherd Neame, to pubs owned by the likes of Stonegate and Admiral Taverns.
Unite said members have rejected a 5% pay rise because that would be a real-terms pay cut given the current rate of inflation.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Once again, a company that is making hundreds of millions in profits is asking workers to take a pay cut.”
A GXO spokesman: “The union’s statement is inaccurate and misleading and their actions are putting their members, the hospitality sector and consumers at risk of unnecessary disruption.
“The current proposal is for an average 9.2% increase and does not impact sick pay.
"We are in constant contact with our customers and, should a strike go ahead, we have business continuity plans in place to ensure they are adequately stocked and to minimise impact on consumers.”
