A number of operators told The Morning Advertiser (The MA) orders of Guinness Draught in keg format have consistently been delayed or restricted in recent weeks.
Many also found it difficult to get hold of cans of Guinness 0.0 over the festive period and are still struggling to order enough to meet demand.
Some even claimed to have turned to other stouts due to fears the issue could be ongoing.
Strong demand
However, Diageo assured it was business as usual for the global brand as demand for Guinness continues to prove strong.
A Diageo spokesperson told The MA: “We have just come out of an extremely busy Christmas period, where Guinness in Great Britain was once again in high demand. It is business as usual as we work with our customers to manage distribution during and after peak periods, to efficiently replenish stock.
“We’re delighted that demand for Guinness continues to grow, and we thank our customers for their partnership in ensuring drinkers can enjoy high-quality stout.”
Last month, the global brand was also forced to quash rumours of shortages in the run-up to Christmas, with strike action at the Guinness canning site in Belfast sparking concerns.
Contingency plan
Around 90 team members took part in the industrial action between Friday 5 and Saturday 13 December 2025.
However, Diageo, told The MA it was selling more Guinness and Guinness 0.0 than ever before and had contingency plans in place to avoid disruption.
It followed the launch of the brand’s new Open Gate Brewery in London’s Covent Garden, with King Charles officially opening the venue last month.
Guinness also introduced its Harp Guide at the end of last year, the first to be published in its annual list of pubs across the UK that the brand says serve the black stuff to a high standard.
