According to reports, the energy crisis is having serious effects on the sale of beer, one of the largest taxpayers in the country. Jose Leon Asencio, president of the Leon Jimenes Group, told reporters that beer sales were down by 7% from last year, for which he blamed the lack of electricity. Retailers are having to increase the price of the product to pay for their own emergency power plants, and this, in turn, has caused a decrease in sales.