Europe has seen heavy rains, droughts and storms. Thus, production of spirits can be affected. Producers from all around Europe try to find ways to protect crops, alter recipes, but some alcoholic beverages can be affected, according to a research by Euronews.

For example, in Italy the sparkling wine we all love, prosecco, is affected because the grape yields are dwindling because of extreme weather events and soil degradation. An analysis from iScience describes the harvest as fragile and under threat.

Also, producers have seen intense rainfall events which trigger soil erosion or even slope failures, when the earth slides way, in the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano regions. Of course, drought is another issue, because irrigation is extremely difficult. Estimates show that the harvest can be reduced by a fifth.

Not only prosecco is affected, but also Palinka in Hungary. To produce it you need plums, apricots, apples, pears and raspberries, but also blackcurrants and cherries. These fruits have become difficult to grow. Western winds are growing weaker and weather conditions from the North and South are arriving frequently. So the young fruits are freezing in the spring, while having to fight extreme drought in summer.

Some manufacturers tried to plant late-blooming trees to avoid frosts, but have discovered that the Palinka has a different taste. Also, others are trying making Palinka out of kiwis, which the changing climate in Hungary allows to grow.

Issues are appearing also in the UK. The weather is warmer and drier and the beer will not be as bitter as before. Scientists are working on generating climate-change resilient varieties of hops.

The data shows that hop yields in Europe will decline with as much as 18% by 2050, according to a research team from the Czech Academy of Sciences and Cambridge University.

The scarcity of water can become also an issue. Water makes up over 60% of spirits and more than 90% in beer. “You could be the most efficient brewery or distillery in the world. But it’s still not going to mitigate your risk if there’s a drought”, said Michael Alexander, global head of water, environment and agriculture sustainability at Diageo, the company that makes Guinness, Tanqueray gin and Baileys irish cream.