Crossword Genius

Further shortage in cheap beer causes group despondency (3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

low morale

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'group despondency' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'further shortage in cheap beer' is the wordplay.
'further shortage' becomes 'mor' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'cheap' becomes 'low'.
'beer' becomes 'ale' (type of beer).
'low'+'ale'='lowale'
'mor' going into 'lowale' is 'LOW MORALE'.

'causes' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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