TOPIC:

Picked this up from Noby on Boards[/url:t8vxrxdz]: a bunch of publicans in Youghal have decided to boycott[/url:t8vxrxdz] Diageo products because of their price hikes. They're seeking -- but most likely won't get, IMO -- support from the VFI.

While I'm sceptical about how long this will last, and perfectly aware that the motives aren't exactly 100% in the favour of the poor beleagured drinker, I think it's a great idea. I hope the craft breweries have noticed and are on their way to Youghal to start pitching their wares right now. I doubt if a local market has ever been more ripe for revolution.

"TheBeerNut":1bpizv3i wrote: They're seeking -- but most likely won't get, IMO -- support from the VFI.
[/quote:1bpizv3i]

They won't. The couple of minutes of liveline I heard mentioned that the VFI is a national organisation, but the needs of your lowly east-Cork publican can be very different to your Dublin publican, hence the break-away stance. The head of the VFI then came on to say he couldn't endorse a boycott of any product, and that they are holding 'talks' with Diageo.

There was a piece in the Examiner yesterday, but I couldn't find it on-line.

Time for BITR's pub to go legit perhaps?

Oh, and in slightly related news, the start of the end for Beamish?[/url:hvmy1h05]


[quote:hvmy1h05]BEAMISH and Crawford has written to a number of its workers offering them voluntary redundancy. [/quote:hvmy1h05]

Funny, I thought the VFI didn't do Dublin and it was the LVA's territory. I take your point though. The cosy relationship between the vast majority of publicans and the big breweries can't be allowed to be disturbed.

"noby":32y80u06 wrote: The head of the VFI then came on to say he couldn't endorse a boycott of any product[/quote:32y80u06]I think that's a bit weaselly. He could have said he supports the right of every pub to choose its own stock. That's what he'd say if we asked why this national organisation of small traders doesn't do more to support Irish-owned breweries.

Well I was paraphrasing the bit I heard as I drove back to work, but that was the tone of it.

Joe Duffy, who I usually can't stand, had a bit of a go at the VFI guy. Something along the lines of:

jD: Did ye talk to the CEO?
VFI guy: We are in dialogue with our contact in Diageo, who said the price increase came from above and he had no control over it.
JD: Who is your contact?
VFI: Some manager guy (I missed his actual title)
JD: What about the CEO?
VFI: No. This is our main contact.
JD: But he's not the CEO
VFI: Yeah, but...
JD: Can the VFI not get a meeting with the CEO?
VFI: We always meet with this guy, and have a great working relationsh...
JD: But he's not the CEO, right?

[quote:1l5zzy08]
noby
The head of the VFI then came on to say he couldn't endorse a boycott of any product,. [/quote:1l5zzy08]

[quote:1l5zzy08]The drink is marketed through his Irish-registered Little Drinks Company. However, the viability of the product is now under threat after the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland and the National Off-Licence Association both called yesterday on its members not to stock the product[/url:1l5zzy08]. [/quote:1l5zzy08]