Attention, White Claw fans ... this CO2 shortage also includes you.

Do you enjoy a Zoom happy hour beer or hard seltzer with friends? Are you a guzzling soda or LaCroix like it's going out of style (I'm am 100 percent guilty of this)? Well, it might actually be going out of style, as CO2 production is going flat due to our current economic slowdown. 

Ethanol plants, which produce CO2 as a byproduct of ethanol production, have idled across the country. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, around 34 of the 45 U.S. ethanol plants that sell CO2 have significantly cut production due to the major drop in gasoline demand because of the coronavirus issues. 

"The problem is accelerating. Every day we're hearing from more of our members about this," said Bob Pease, chief executive officer of the Brewers Association to DailyMail.com who represents much of the nation's craft breweries. Pease said he expects some brewers to start cutting production in the coming weeks, as CO2 prices have increased by about 25 percent.

In addition to beverage companies, the lack of CO2 production affects other industries, including packaging, processing, healthcare, construction, to name just a few. Meat and produce producers are one industry that is feeling the shortage since CO2 is used in processing, packaging, preservation, and shipment.

Now, it's important to keep all this in perspective, as the economy is slowly opening back up and people will be hitting the road, increasing gas use and ethanol need. It won't be likely that we'll run out of beer or soda any time soon due to both warehoused beverage supplies and current stockpiles of CO2. The Daily Mail reported that at least one beverage company it spoke with had been feeling the pinch, but several others didn't expect problems, including National Beverage Corp, whose products include LaCroix. 

So, at least for now, we don't need to create a run and start hoarding carbonated beverages and beer. No need to subject us all to a toilet paper situation. But if you have a chance to stop by your preferred craft brewers or beverage producers and buy a growler or six-pack of your favorite brew (or soda, etc.), there's no time like the present, if for no other reason than to support local businesses and the economy. 

Have you noticed your local brewers being limited on selections? Let us know in the comments.