C&C quits UK drinks group

A delicious spat arose this week in Britain between C&C, the Clonmel- based maker of Bulmers and Magners cider, and the Portman Group, the alcohol-industry funded body that is supposed to promote responsible drinking in the UK.

C&C resigned from the group during the week and couldn't resist tweaking the nose of Portman's remaining funders – mostly multinational drinks companies such as Diageo, Heineken and Pernod Ricard – on its way out the door.

C&C is not listed as a member of Meas, the Irish responsible drinking industry group. Like Portman, Meas is also funded primarily by Diageo, Heineken and the Pernod Ricard- owned Irish Distillers.

The Irish group should take note of C&C’s comments on minimum alcohol pricing, which is also planned in this country despite industry lobbying.

C&C said it resigned from Portman “in order to focus our resources on a strategy of investing in community projects rather than industry lobbying”. The company supports minimum alcohol pricing “because we understand the needs of the communities in which we play a part”.

“Sadly the Portman Group has moved away from its founding principles and is now dominated by large multinational drink companies with an agenda at odds with the wider UK industry,” C&C said. “On this basis we feel it’s time to leave.”

A distinctly unimpressed Portman dismissed C&C’s criticisms.

The cider-maker’s concern for the impact of alcohol on communities is laudable.

It is also quite handy for C&C, however, that it serves the company’s marketing needs by striking out on its own away from the big drinks companies.

C&C sees a future for itself as a producer of craft beers and ciders, a sort of hipster drink company. What self-respecting craft brewer would be seen dead hanging around with the titans of the drinks industry establishment?