Global warming may cause beer shortage

Beer lovers, take note, global warming may cause you to pay more at the tap.
According to a recent report, global warming is making it difficult for harvesters to grow malting barleys, an essential ingredient in making beer. A barley shortage would mean the price of beer is going to go up, or if things get bad, production of beer will end.
Who cares about polar bears wandering around the Arctic looking desperately for food? Who cares about large chunks of the polar ice caps breaking off into the ocean? Who cares about the extreme weather that is becoming a more common occurrence? Who cares about replacing oil energy with renewable energy?
Why should these problems matter if we don’t have any beer?
In reality these problems matter a lot if you want your beer because global warming has caused all of them and could lead to a beer shortage, if we’re not careful.
And if these problems do matter to you, not having any beer to drown your sorrow about them is just another problem to add to your list. It never ends.
I’m hoping a beer shortage may finally lead millions to actually follow the many “green” tips to help save the planet they hear about on Earth Day, which was celebrated Tuesday. People that don’t care about the Earth, or at least about how mankind is affecting the planet through its overuse of oil and other wasteful means, might rethink how they are making a difference in the world on a daily basis, not just on Earth Day, if they have to pay more at the tap or if the tap runs dry.
After all, beer is Wisconsin’s unofficial state drink. It’s so popular here our professional baseball team is named the Brewers, and too much brew is probably why that team hasn’t been to the playoffs in 26 years. I would gladly exchange a beer shortage for a playoff trip for the Brewers; however, not for the harm of the environment.
Beer is so popular in Wisconsin that nobody blinks when a church holds a polka service and serves beer following it. I know Jesus turned water into wine, but wasn’t that at a wedding or some other less-holy event?
Although I’m not a fan of the major beer brands, mainly because they are kind of bland, I do occasionally enjoy a micro-brewed beer, which is offered by several outstanding local breweries. I don’t want to pay more for this treat and I certainly don’t want this treat to never be available to me again.
I’ll bet these breweries are not going to like paying more for malting barleys and they’ll be the first to say people need to do something to curb global warming.
I could give a list of tips to help do this, but by now most people are familiar with them. The main one, reducing usage of oil products such as gas, is something that may occur without even trying, given the high prices we’re now paying at the pump.
I know some people may argue with me that global warming is a myth. Those people, I hope, will end this foolish belief when they have to pay $30 for a six-pack of beer.
Although I don’t want to see beer prices rise or shortages to occur, there is one potential benefit – a reduction in the number of drunk drivers. A recent survey revealed Wisconsin has the highest percentage of people in the United States who have driven drunk in the past year. That’s not a No. 1 ranking Wisconsin should take pride in.
But we should try to reduce this percentage through other prevention means, like education and stiffer penalties.
We should make it a priority to save the environment and end global warming for the good of the planet and mankind, and then we can have our beer at church.