Alcohol now among items running dry due to COVID pandemic

First it was toilet paper and baking supplies - now you can add alcohol to the list of items running dry due to the pandemic.

News 12 Staff

Oct 14, 2021, 9:30 PM

Updated 924 days ago

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First it was toilet paper and baking supplies - now you can add alcohol to the list of items running dry due to the pandemic.
The disruption to the supply, according to managers at Westchester Wine Warehouse in White Plains, is mostly affecting spirits created in specific custom bottles.
"Johnny Walker Blue, Frangelico, those kinds of spirits. Because as you've seen overall the past few years, the marketing of the spirits bottles is so important, they have to standout," says Sunil Khurana, of the Westchester Wine Warehouse. "A lot of that glass shortage is due to all that glass being allocated toward the vaccine bottles."
A huge demand for certain types of spirits is also creating a shortage.
"Some spirits take a long time to mature, like scotch and bourbon, and they can't be rushed, the producers do not want to impact the quality," says Khurana.
A bottleneck of shipping containers in busy ports, such as Los Angeles, is also causing delays in liquor getting onto store shelves.
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach will now operate 24/7 to speed up the flow of items.
Liquor store owners say if you can't find what you're looking for due to shortage, now would be a great time to expand your palette and try something new.
With the holiday season right around the corner, Westchester Wine Warehouse says it expects to be fully stocked.
"We're buying greater quantities to make sure we satisfy our needs for the holiday, so we'll have plenty available for everybody," says Khurana.
Local liquor store owners tell News 12 unlike in some other states, they are not currently rationing items.


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