Even though Mexico's beer industry is on the brink of collapse Heineken Mexico has launched a voucher program that aims to support restaurant owners and their staff during the economic crisis brought by COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent article.

Indeed, in this outbreak, it is not the large companies but the small businesses that are mostly affected.

Heineken's Por Tu Restaurante (For Your Restaurant) campaign will benefit 10,000 bars and restaurants across Mexico, as well as 50,000 servers and other staff.

The mechanics for this promo is simple: Buy vouchers for future meals at selected partner restaurants on the program site. Once in-house service has resumed, the coupons will take effect, and depending on the amount of purchase; you can also get two to eight free beers.

You can also add a 10-15 percent tip for every purchase, and Heineken will match it until the fund reaches a maximum of 4 million pesos or US$168,000.

In early April, Heineken and other beer makers in Mexico have already halted production after the federal government included beer in the list of nonessential agro-industrial products.

Across Mexico and around the world, breweries are one of the most affected industries given that bars and restaurants have closed. A month after brewery operations halted, the country now faces a beer shortage, and the situation is expected to worsen further as quarantine measures have been extended through May.


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Support Small Businesses

According to a recent article by Latin Post, around 30 percent of Mexicans suffer from business closures since they belong to the informal economy. It is also predicted that the economic crisis will result in 18 million people losing their jobs.

Therefore, supporting small businesses like local restaurants will help them survive and avoid laying off their workers.

These small businesses vary from restaurants to organic produce farms to service providers like culinary schools to musicians and artists who find means to deliver their goods and services without putting their customers at risk.

In a recent article, hospitals in the state of Mexico are thankful for receiving 100,000 bottles of Corona, not the virus, and not filled with beer.


Mexican Companies' Corporate Social Responsibility

Mexican companies and foreign businesses with branches in Mexico also have extended help despite a decline in sales and production.

Corona beer, for instance, has shifted its production and filled their beer bottles with purified water, providing 200,000 liters of drinking water to neighborhoods around Mexico City each week, which it has done since earlier this month.

Likewise, Ford México, the giant bakery firm Bimbo, and the resources company BHP also have extended help by contributing resources to support medical staff during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Ford announced that its Chihuahua plant would convert its operations starting April 27 to produce 100,000 plastic face shields over the coming days.

This COVID-19 crisis, there are many ways to support our local businesses and their workers, and Heineken Mexico is leading the way.