Drinks giant Diageo has announced it is no longer going to be involved with the controversial Stop Out of Control Drinking campaign.
David Smith, director of Diageo who sat on the board, has said he is resigning from this position on the board but the company will still fund the programme.
At the launch of the campaign in February, it was strongly criticised over the Diageo link.
Fergus Finlay, chief executive of Barnardos and chair of the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking campaign, said Mr Smith’s resignation was in response to the “huge controversy” about Diageo’s involvement in the campaign.
“David never interfered or tried to control. He was on the board because he wanted to be involved and supportive and part of the solution,” he said.
“He’s left the board for precisely the same reasons.
“David wasn’t forced or encouraged, he made up his own mind. He genuinely felt controversy about Diageo’s involvement undermining people in an unnecessary way.”
Mr Finlay said Diageo’s funding, of about €1 million to date, has allowed to campaign to be started.
“I got involved in this campaign because I was thinking of my kids and grandkids, to change our culture into one of respect for alcohol,” he said.
Source: Rachel Flaherty, Irish Times, 25/03/15
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