Worm shortage hits pubs

A worm shortage has hit UK pubs and bars, following a hugely successful promotion by Hi-Spirits for its Mexican Monte Alban Mezcal brand.

The company has sold more Monte Alban in the UK over the past six weeks than it did in the whole of last year,

following a promotion offering every drinker who ordered a shot of the tequila-like spirit the chance to eat a Mezcal-soaked worm.

Many venues were promoting it as a scary shot for Halloween, which caused a huge spike in sales and demand is expected to continue as the Christmas party season approaches, said chairman Jeremy Hill.

"We're expecting demand to continue in the run-up to the peak party season and we're having to limit the number of worms per customer, but there will still be enough for anyone ordering three bottles to offer a worm with every shot," he said.

Traditionally, only the person who had the final shot in the bottle got to eat the worm at the bottom, but the Hi-Spirits deal offers a free bottle chock-full of Mexican worms

to licensees buying three bottles of Monte Alban.

"That means every drinker who orders can try the worm — as long as they are brave enough," said Hill.