Drinks giant Diageo has pulled its representative from the board of the controversial alcohol aware ness campaign, which it also funds.
However, the company said it remained “unanimous” in its support for upcoming alcohol legislation.
Ireland country director for Diageo, David Smith, said he was stepping down from the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking campaign to ensure it could complete its objectives “without pressure or distraction”.
“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,” he said.
“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 told RTÉ radio.
It is the fourth resignation from the board in recent weeks. Dr Ciara Kelly, Krystian Fikert, of mental health care organisation MyMind, and Patrick Gilligan, of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, have also stepped down.
Diageo confirmed its decision to leave the board would not affect its funding for the campaign — which amounts to around €1m to date.
In a statement, the company said the resignation was a further example of its independence from the campaign. It also said it was “unanimous” in its support for the Public Health Alcohol Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas.
Source: Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Irish Examiner, 26/03/15
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
