If your go-to drink in the pub is a pint of beer , you might want to start looking at alternative options.
A new study has revealed that climate change could lead to global shortages of beer.
Scientists from the University of East Anglia and University of California, Irvine, warn that increasingly widespread and severe drought and heat may affect the yields of barley worldwide.
In turn, this could affect the supply used to make beer, resulting in ‘dramatic’ falls in beer consumption, as well as soaring beer prices.
Dr Steven Davis, co-author of the study, said: ”The world is facing many life-threatening impacts of climate change, so people having to spend a bit more to drink beer may seem trivial by comparison.
“But there is definitely a cross-cultural appeal to beer, and not having a cool pint at the end of an increasingly common hot day just adds insult to injury."
In the study, the team modelled scenarios based on current and expected future levels of fossil fuel burning and carbon dioxide emissions.
Their models revealed that in the worst case, parts of the world where barley is grown could experience more frequent droughts and heatwaves.
Consequently, barley crop yields could drop by up to 17 per cent.
Dr Nathan Mueller, co-author of the study, said: “Current levels of fossil fuel consumption and CO2 pollution - business as usual - will result in this worst-case scenario, with more weather extremes negatively impacting the world's beer basket.
“Our study showed that even modest warming will lead to increases in drought and excessive heat events in barley-growing areas."
The researchers also revealed how this drop in yield will affect the price of beer.
Beer-loving countries including Belgium, Canada and Ireland will see prices skyrocket, with prices in Ireland predicted to up by $20/six-pack.
Dr Davis added: “Our results show that in the most severe climate events, the supply of beer could decline by about 16 percent in years when droughts and heat waves strike.
“That’s comparable to all beer consumption in the US.
“Future climate and pricing conditions could put beer out of reach for hundreds of millions of people around the world."