BrewDog apologises for ‘not giving a sh*t’ about breaking marketing code

BrewDog is attempting to underline its outsider status by apologising for “not giving a sh*t” about a decision by industry watchdog The Portman Group, or a “gloomy gaggle of killjoy jobsworths” as the brewer puts it, to censure the marketing for one of its beers for encouraging excessive drinking.

Brewdog

 

The Portman Group ruled lines such as “rip it up down empty streets” and “we believe faster is better” on the packaging for BrewDog’s 3.8% Dead Pony Club beer breached its marketing code because it linked drinking alcohol with “bravado and immoderate consumption”.

A note has been issued to retailers asking them to cease selling the drink after 8 July. The Portman Group, funded by the nine biggest drinks makers, has no statutory oversight but signatories to its marketing code, which includes the major supermarkets, are obliged to abide by its rulings.

BrewDog was unrepentant in its response to the ruling. James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, says: “I would like to issue a formal apology to the Portman Group for not giving a shit about today’s ruling. Indeed, we are sorry for never giving a shit about anything the Portman Group has to say, and treating all of its statements with callous indifference and nonchalance.

“Unfortunately, the Portman Group is a gloomy gaggle of killjoy jobsworths, funded by navel-gazing international drinks giants. Their raison d’être is to provide a diversion for the true evils of this industry, perpetrated by the gigantic faceless brands that pay their wages. Blinkered by this soulless mission, they treat beer drinkers like brain dead zombies and vilify creativity and competition.

“Therefore, we have never given a second thought to any of the grubby newspeak they disseminate periodically.”

It is not the first time BrewDog has fallen foul of regulators and not the first time it has hit back. It has been rapped by The Portman Group over the marketing of drinks such as Speedball – named after a cocktail of drugs – and threatened legal action over comments made by the then chief executive of The Portman Group. It also vowed to ignore a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority last year, slamming the ad watchdog as a “mother f*cker” that has no legal jurisdiction over its marcomms.

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