Booze bonanza for shops masks beer and spirits downturn

FILE PHOTO: A man buys beer in a supermarket after the government lifted a ban on alcohol sale, that has been in place since April 10, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand, May 3, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - When Lionel Platteuw started planning how he would cope under Belgium's coronavirus lockdown, there was one item he wanted to make sure he had enough of - alcohol.

"My first concern was that we didn't have enough beer and wine," said the Brussels-based consultant. "I wasn't concerned about toilet paper, but I didn't want to be stuck at home without alcohol supplies."