Belgium: Alken-Maes brewery calls on bar goers to stop stealing beer glasses

The Alken-Maes brewery is calling on bar goers to stop stealing beer glasses after a bar visit, stating that glass production has become very expensive, and beer glasses are gradually becoming scarce, The Brussels Times reported on October 18.

The brewery, which is known for Cristal and Maes beers, among others, is fed up with the frequent stealing of beer glasses. The brewery's bars are still getting enough supplies, but are asked to "be economical" with them.

"The price of glass has increased enormously because its production is hugely energy-intensive," Sebastiaan De Meester, spokesperson for the brewery, said on Flemish radio. "There is also scarcity and due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, more production has stopped in Ukraine and the market is under pressure."

While the brewery added that there are enough glasses to supply all regular bars for the time being, one phenomenon only adds to the scarcity: clients taking beer glasses home. "People like to take home a souvenir, especially if it is a nice glass. So bar owners had best be economical with their glasses and keep a close eye on them."

The beer glass of the new Cristal Xtra (short, ribbed glasses), but also the so-called "boerkes" (plain beer glasses with a golden rim) are popular glasses to steal, Alken-Maes said. "So we want to appeal to people to stop doing that, and just return the beer glasses to the bar owner. Think of your bar owner when you drink a glass of beer."