diff --git a/plugins/beers/beers.go b/plugins/beers/beers.go
index be666c1..4cf4897 100644
--- a/plugins/beers/beers.go
+++ b/plugins/beers/beers.go
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ import (
 
 // This is a skeleton plugin to serve as an example and quick copy/paste for new plugins.
 
-const itemName = ":beer:"
-
 var cachedImages = map[string][]byte{}
 
+const DEFAULT_ITEM = "🍺"
+
 type BeersPlugin struct {
 	b  bot.Bot
 	c  *config.Config
@@ -240,14 +240,15 @@ func (p *BeersPlugin) help(c bot.Connector, kind bot.Kind, message msg.Message,
 	return true
 }
 
-func getUserBeers(db *sqlx.DB, user, id string) counter.Item {
+func getUserBeers(db *sqlx.DB, user, id, itemName string) counter.Item {
 	// TODO: really ought to have an ID here
 	booze, _ := counter.GetUserItem(db, user, id, itemName)
 	return booze
 }
 
 func (p *BeersPlugin) setBeers(r *bot.Request, user, id string, amount int) {
-	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, user, id)
+	itemName := p.c.Get("beers.itemname", DEFAULT_ITEM)
+	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, user, id, itemName)
 	err := ub.Update(r, amount)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error().Err(err).Msgf("Error saving beers")
@@ -255,15 +256,17 @@ func (p *BeersPlugin) setBeers(r *bot.Request, user, id string, amount int) {
 }
 
 func (p *BeersPlugin) addBeers(r *bot.Request, user, id string, delta int) {
-	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, user, id)
+	itemName := p.c.Get("beers.itemname", DEFAULT_ITEM)
+	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, user, id, itemName)
 	err := ub.UpdateDelta(r, delta)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error().Err(err).Msgf("Error saving beers")
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *BeersPlugin) getBeers(nick, id string) int {
-	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, nick, id)
+func (p *BeersPlugin) getBeers(user, id string) int {
+	itemName := p.c.Get("beers.itemname", DEFAULT_ITEM)
+	ub := getUserBeers(p.db, user, id, itemName)
 	return ub.Count
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/beers/beers_test.go b/plugins/beers/beers_test.go
index 48aa277..68e2dee 100644
--- a/plugins/beers/beers_test.go
+++ b/plugins/beers/beers_test.go
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ func makeBeersPlugin(t *testing.T) (*BeersPlugin, *bot.MockBot) {
 	counter.New(mb)
 	mb.DB().MustExec(`delete from counter; delete from counter_alias;`)
 	b := New(mb)
-	counter.MkAlias(mb.DB(), "beer", ":beer:")
-	counter.MkAlias(mb.DB(), "beers", ":beer:")
+	counter.MkAlias(mb.DB(), "beer", DEFAULT_ITEM)
+	counter.MkAlias(mb.DB(), "beers", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	return b, mb
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func TestImbibe(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
 	testMessage(b, "imbibe")
 	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 2)
-	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", itemName)
+	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 2, it.Count)
 }
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func TestEq(t *testing.T) {
 	b, mb := makeBeersPlugin(t)
 	testMessage(b, "beers = 3")
 	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
-	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", itemName)
+	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 3, it.Count)
 }
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func TestEqZero(t *testing.T) {
 	testMessage(b, "beers = 0")
 	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 2)
 	assert.Contains(t, mb.Messages[1], "reversal of fortune")
-	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", itemName)
+	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, it.Count)
 }
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestBeersPlusEq(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
 	testMessage(b, "beers += 5")
 	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 2)
-	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", itemName)
+	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 10, it.Count)
 }
@@ -113,11 +113,11 @@ func TestBeersPlusEq(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPuke(t *testing.T) {
 	b, mb := makeBeersPlugin(t)
 	testMessage(b, "beers += 5")
-	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", itemName)
+	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 5, it.Count)
 	testMessage(b, "puke")
-	it, err = counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", itemName)
+	it, err = counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, it.Count)
 }
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func TestPuke(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBeersReport(t *testing.T) {
 	b, mb := makeBeersPlugin(t)
 	testMessage(b, "beers += 5")
-	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", itemName)
+	it, err := counter.GetUserItem(mb.DB(), "tester", "id", DEFAULT_ITEM)
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 5, it.Count)
 	testMessage(b, "beers")