A row has broken out over a new Diageo-funded alcohol awareness campaign.
Over 50 individuals and organisations have signed an open letter which suggests the campaign is an attempt by the alcohol industry to distract from their obstruction of strategies that tackle binge drinking.
In a statement, Fergus Finlay, who is spearheading the initiative, says over 4,000 people have already joined and has called for the debate about changing Ireland's drinking culture to be respected and allowed to happen.
The letter states that:
"We believe this campaign is the latest attempt by the alcohol industry in Ireland to appear socially responsible about alcohol consumption on one hand, while continuing to obstruct progressive alcohol harm reduction strategies, including a ban on alcohol sponsorship in sport.
"Claims that the new campaign is fully independent do not hold water. Diageo initiated the campaign. They are its sole funder. Mr David Smith, head of Diageo Ireland, is a Board member with others who have alcohol industry associations and positions on related issues like sports sponsorship that are sympathetic to the industry. The campaign’s secretariat is Goddard Global, a UK based lobbying firm with links to Diageo.
"Ultimately, we believe industry initiatives like this are not genuinely designed to tackle alcohol related harm. How can they be? To do so would be counterproductive to the pursuit of maximum profits."
But Senator Jillian Van Turnhout said it is not appropriate for a drinks company to fund this campaign
“It gives Diageo a great cover and a great smokescreen so they can say come out and say ‘look, we’re trying to do our best on this issue’.
“Diageo’s role is to sell alcohol and make profits for shareholders. For me they have no place in public health campaigns.
“By allowing them to do this – these are companies who have oppose every regulation that we’ve tried to bring in here in Ireland, on alcohol misuse, on alcohol related harm.”
Others who signed the letter against Diageo’s involvement in the campaign include figures from politics, charitable organisations, sport and music.
Notable names include: The National Youth Council of Ireland, Professor John Crown, Youth Work Ireland, comedian Des Bishop, Irish Rural Link, the Union of Students in Ireland, former GAA President Dr Mick Loftus, Róisín Shortall TD, folk singer Christy Moore and Wexford football captain Ciarán Lyng.
