December 23, 2002 -- There is change in store in 2003 for Germany's brewing industry, and the short term effect is a flood of cheap beer just in time for the holidays.

Starting in 2003, the German government will impose charges on non-reusable bottles and cans because the national percentage of recycled cans and bottles has fallen below a 72 percent minimum target set in 1997. To clear out stocks of the brands that will be subject to the charges, German retailers are selling beers off for as little as 10 euro cents or less per can.

Saturday's Bild newspaper headlines said it all: "Germany foams over with joy! Everyone's buying cheap beer."

But there could be a hangover in Germany's future, as retailers warm of a potential beer shortage beginning in the new year.

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