Diageo - the parent company of Guinness – have withdrawn from an alcohol awareness campaign just a month after it was established.
Ireland Country Director for the drinks company, David Smith confirmed today that he is stepping down from the board of the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking campaign.
It is the fourth resignation that has blighted the group, by Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay, since it was established in February.
Up to 12,000 have signed up to the campaign which is funded by Diageo to the tune of €1m over the first year.
“Since the launch of the campaign many of our board members have been subjected to unwarranted pressure because of a perceived lack of independence given the involvement of Diageo on the board,” Mr Smith told RTE.
“To ensure that the board members can work to the best of their abilities and carry out the objectives of the campaign without further pressure and distraction I will no longer sit on the board of the campaign,” he added.
Responding Health Minister Leo Varadkar said it was welcomed that Diageo were stepping back from the board.
“I don’t think it is appropriate that the drinks industry should be actively involved in campaigns around public health for the obvious reasons,” Mr Varadkar said.
However, social campaigner and founder of Spunout.ie, Ruairi McKiernan, says Diageo is still behind the campaign - as it is involved in funding - and he is not satisfied.
Speaking on RTE Radio One, Mr Smith said it never came up prior to the establishment of the campaign that Diageo should not have a seat at the board.
Source: Barry Duggan, Irish Independent, 25/03/15
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