Ontario Beer Drinkers Urged to Return Bottles

TORONTO — Ontario’s breweries have issued an urgent plea for the return of millions of empty beer bottles to avoid shortages of some brands.

“I would stop short of using the word crisis but it is serious,” said Bob Woolvett, spokesman for seven beer producers in Ontario.

People in Ontario drink more beer than in any other Canadian province.

Woolvett said there could be a shortage of some brands if bottles are not returned within the next two weeks. The situation has never been this bad at this time of year, he said, urging people to clean out closets and basements and return “millions and millions”of bottles.