The cost of a pint of lager will soar in the UK as a result of Russia invading Ukraine, a Ukrainian MP has said. The price of a fish and chip supper will also rocket because of the war, he warned.
Odessa MP Alex Goncharenko - an important ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky - said lager and fried chips were some of the things that would become more expensive as his country could not export crucial ingredients. He called for the Royal Navy to police a deal allowing grain to be sent from ports on the Black Sea, The Mirror reports.
Speaking to reporters during the NATO Summit in Madrid, Mr Goncharenko said: “Already people in the whole world are feeling the result of this blockade, when some man in London is ordering fish and chips, chips are fried in Ukrainian sunflower oil of which 30% of the world’s export is Ukrainian. Now it has disappeared.
“Beer is made from Ukrainian barley - Ukraine is the number four exporter in the world of barley, and for Europe almost number one. It means that he will pay more for his fish and chips and beer.”
He said an export deal should be agreed between the West, Turkey and Russia. “For example, today Russia is exporting millions of barrels of oil everyday through the Bosphorus - it can be said to them for humanitarian reasons, ‘Either your oil and Ukrainian grain is coming or nothing is coming,” he said.
“That would be absolutely just and clear. It can be done without any military operations, no risk of military attacks.”
Mr Goncharenko said shipments could be monitored by the Royal Navy. “The United Kingdom is a member of the Security Council and a great navy country,” he said.
“The United Kingdom can play a major role here. I hope very much that it will be resolved.”
Key shipping routes in the Black Sea have been mined, making it difficult for vessels to sail in and out of Ukrainian ports. The blockade has hampered exports of Ukrainian goods, including grain and barley.
Campaign for Pubs campaign director Greg Mulholland said: “The impact of rising prices of grain and the serious supply problems are putting pressure on small brewers and on publicans. At the same time consumers are facing the cost-of-living crisis, pubs and breweries are also seeing soaring energy prices and rising product prices which is pushing up the price of a pint and making it difficult for some people to continue to afford to go to the pub.”
He said further support was needed for the sector. “The Government needs to realise that pubs and many small brewers are still recovering from the loss of trade from the Covid pandemic and lockdowns,” he said.
Campaign for Real Ale chairman Nik Antona said: "This is an incredibly difficult time across the board and Camra and our members stand with the people of Ukraine. As an organisation, we're aware that consumers and businesses alike are struggling with rising costs of goods and a huge squeeze on the cost of living, at a time when many pubs and breweries are trying to get back on their feet post-pandemic.”
British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “In recent months, our brewers have reported difficulties with obtaining key ingredients and raw materials due to numerous supply chain issues, including the war in Ukraine. We are closely monitoring the situation and working alongside businesses and government to help ensure disruption is minimised.”
