Feb. 18, 1981: Beer drinkers toast end of 7-month brewery strike

Thirty-seven years ago beer drinkers in Alberta endured a brewery strike that lasted seven months and forced many to turn to drinking American-made suds.

The province's four brewers and six unions reached a settlement on a three-year contract on Feb. 18, 1981, after brewery workers walked out in July 1980.

The newly-signed deal would give workers a wage of $13.72 an hour by the end of the deal.

Liquor stores and bars stockpiled Canadian beer, but as the strike dragged on, supplies ran out, resulting in "No Beer Available" signs in liquor store windows.

It took a few days after the strike ended for local beer to begin flowing again.

For some beer drinkers the imported American beer, brought in to wet their whistles after Canadian suds ran out, wouldn't be missed.

"It's kind of nice to have the good old Albertan beer back really," said one bar patron.

"Canadian beer's the best. Back at it," said another.

In the video, CBC's Don Newman talks with bar patrons about the end of the strike.