The UK could face shortages of Guinness 0.0 this Christmas after workers at parent company Diageo voted in favour of strike action, Unite the union has warned.
Around 90 employees at Diageo’s Belfast brewery will begin strike action on 5 December in a dispute over pay. The walkouts will continue until 13 December.
The Belfast site is the largest packaging site for Diageo’s market-leading Guinness 0.0 product.
“This strike action will severely disrupt production lines in the run-up to Christmas,” said Unite regional officer Michael Keenan. “Management needs to stop disrespecting our members and return to the negotiating table with an offer that meets workers’ pay expectations.”
Diageo, however, insisted the industrial action would not cause distruption to Guinness or Guinnes 0.0 supplies over the Christmas period.
“We have contingency plans in place to manage any potential impact at our can packaging site in Belfast,” a spokesman said. “While we are disappointed by the outcome of the ballot for industrial action, we strongly believe that continued engagement is the best way of securing a resolution that recognises employees for their valued contribution, while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the site.”
Staff were demanding “a substantial increase in pay to close the pay gap with Diageo employees at the company’s site in Runcorn, England”, Unite said. The pay offer rejected by employees was not disclosed by the union or Diageo.
“Diageo is one of the largest and most profitable drinks companies in the world,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said. “It can fully afford to make workers a decent offer but has chosen to put profits before people.”
Guinness 0.0 is the UK’s biggest alcohol-free beer. Off-trade sales of the stout have grown by 39.3% to £50.6m in the past year [NIQ 52 w/e 6 September 2025].
Diageo was forced to ration supplies of full-strength Guinness to retailers last Christmas after “exceptional consumer demand” raised fears of shortages of the stout
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