-Caveat Lector- http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/26/1040511133545.html
Print this article | Close this window A nation with no beer December 27 2002 The general strike against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has cut not only vital supplies of oil, but also another precious liquid in the country: beer. Since the strike began December 2, cutting into the beer supplies as the nation's top producer stopped brewing, beer-thirsty Venezuelans have had to turn to whiskey and other alternatives. "Right now, we drunks are drinking the good stuff," Jose Gonzalez, a retired government worker, joked after buying a $US28 ($A50) bottle of whiskey. "But if the strike continues, we are going to end up broke." It's a bit of a sacrifice for beer-loving Venezuelans, who like to socialise over a glass in neighbourhood Spanish-style taverns or have a cold one to combat the tropical heat. According to Cerveceria Regional, a Venezuelan subsidiary of Brazil's Brahma brewery, Venezuela is the No. 3 beer producer in Latin America. Per capita, Venezuelans are the biggest beer consumers in Latin America, drinking an average of 80 litres annually. Mexico comes next at 51 litres; Brazil, 48 litres. But into the strike's fourth week, beer is becoming hard if not impossible to find in Caracas liquor stores and supermarkets. It is still available in many bars and restaurants, but selections have shrunk. Merchants complain their profits will be as flat as day-old beer during what should be a peak season. "Normally, December is the best month of the year for us. It's when we sell the most, for parties," said Marco Dos Santos, a Caracas liquor store owner. "We still have rum, whiskey, and wines, but they could be gone in a few days and we'll have to close." Dos Santos added that no products have arrived at his shop in two weeks. Prospects of replenishment soon were dim. Empresas Polar, Venezuela's biggest brewer and one of the world's largest, stopped production to support the strike. Soldiers recently raided a Polar warehouse looking for other products, such as cornflour and cooking oil, after Chavez ordered authorities to distribute hoarded products deemed essential to the nation's welfare. Beer isn't on the list, and the soldiers only found thousands of bottles waiting to be filled. Polar said it is taking legal action to prevent more raids. AP This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/26/ 1040511133545.html <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
