HEADLINES:
R/€ 
Oil Lions supporters drink pubs dry
June 22, 2009 Edition 2
Staff Reporter
Emergency beer supplies had to be trucked in to pubs in Durban and Umhlanga to cope with the demand from Lions rugby fans
And one venue ran out of beer not once, but twice on the same day.
"It was completely wild and I had to deliver emergency supplies to venues all over town on Saturday morning," said SA Breweries sales manager Paul Bartmann.
Some venues had to hire trucks to pick up extra supplies.
Seven hundred extra cases of beer had to be rushed to the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World where restaurants were said to be "a sea of red".
In Umhlanga, there were so many partying Lions supporters that they were 15-deep in one pub at one stage, with another venue running queues to get inside.
"It was absolutely unbelievable. We were just not prepared for the onslaught," said a delighted Eleanor Gillies, manager of The George Tapas and Wine Bar.
"The Lions twice drank us dry on Friday and I had to close the doors at midnight as we had run out after getting a resupply at lunchtime," she said.
Over at the Cotton Fields restaurant, owner and partner Gordon Jestin said the Lions fans had got through about 6 000 beers. He had also had to call for a resupply. Jestin said he did not normally open on a Sunday but had done so to put on a braai for fans.
© 1999 - 2010 Cape Argus & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.