Comments on: Beer brouhaha http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/2007/10/29/beer-brouhaha/ Just another irishtimes.com weblog Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:20:17 +0000 By: Duncan Martin http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/2007/10/29/beer-brouhaha/#comment-1330 Duncan Martin Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:30:43 +0000 http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/2007/10/29/beer-brouhaha/#comment-1330 Not that OUR breweries would ever do such a thing, of course!!! Yet the Guinness brewed in Nigeria is about 7% alcohol (if I recall aright), about half as strong again as what they brew here. Breweries justify such changes as adapting the product to suit the local market - in this case the drinking culture. Some countries don't swill the stuff by the gallon like we do, so prefer a stronger beer. If we got our hands on such stuff, we'd all end up comatose. Well, that's the argument! Y'see they aren't ripping us off, they're saving us from ourselves! (Though if that's so, why don't they stop brewing altogether, one might ask?) The reality is they're selling a brand, not a beer. If they thought it would sell in Saudi Arabia at 0% alcohol, they'd brew some. If they thought they'd sell more to women if they'd dyed it pink, they would. Not that OUR breweries would ever do such a thing, of course!!!

Yet the Guinness brewed in Nigeria is about 7% alcohol (if I recall aright), about half as strong again as what they brew here.

Breweries justify such changes as adapting the product to suit the local market - in this case the drinking culture. Some countries don’t swill the stuff by the gallon like we do, so prefer a stronger beer. If we got our hands on such stuff, we’d all end up comatose. Well, that’s the argument!

Y’see they aren’t ripping us off, they’re saving us from ourselves! (Though if that’s so, why don’t they stop brewing altogether, one might ask?)

The reality is they’re selling a brand, not a beer. If they thought it would sell in Saudi Arabia at 0% alcohol, they’d brew some. If they thought they’d sell more to women if they’d dyed it pink, they would.

]]> By: Philip Donnelly http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/2007/10/29/beer-brouhaha/#comment-1178 Philip Donnelly Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:04:29 +0000 http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/2007/10/29/beer-brouhaha/#comment-1178 This beer scam has been going on for donkey's years. We've all seen the ads extolling the beechwood aging and rocky mountain deliciousness of premium foreign brands from Holland, Denmark, America and Australia. But all those lagers we're so familiar with are in fact brewed under licence here in Ireland. What we're really getting is a kind of globalised, tasteless swill that no self-respecting Dane or Dutchman would touch with a bargepole. What I can't understand is why the advertising standards crowd aren't on to the brewing majors. Clearly if a lager purporting to emanate from say...Holland, comes from Cork, then isn't that a deception? My advice to Conor and all other beer drinkers is to be more discerning, stop drinking mass-produced rubbish and seek out the good stuff now being stocked by many of our more imaginative independent off-licences. This beer scam has been going on for donkey’s years. We’ve all seen the ads extolling the beechwood aging and rocky mountain deliciousness of premium foreign brands from Holland, Denmark, America and Australia. But all those lagers we’re so familiar with are in fact brewed under licence here in Ireland. What we’re really getting is a kind of globalised, tasteless swill that no self-respecting Dane or Dutchman would touch with a bargepole. What I can’t understand is why the advertising standards crowd aren’t on to the brewing majors. Clearly if a lager purporting to emanate from say…Holland, comes from Cork, then isn’t that a deception? My advice to Conor and all other beer drinkers is to be more discerning, stop drinking mass-produced rubbish and seek out the good stuff now being stocked by many of our more imaginative independent off-licences.

]]> By: Paul Smyth http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/2007/10/29/beer-brouhaha/#comment-1132 Paul Smyth Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:34:27 +0000 http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/pricewatch/2007/10/29/beer-brouhaha/#comment-1132 Pringles have pulled a similar stunt. What used to be a 200 gram can of Pringles Sour Cream and Onion is now a 170 gram can. Note that the can is the same size and looks virtually identical to the 200 gram can so most people wouldn't notice the difference. You do however notice that there is a big gap between the top of the Pringles inside and the top of the can. Perhaps their advertising slogan should be 'Pringles, same price, now with less!' Pringles have pulled a similar stunt. What used to be a 200 gram can of Pringles Sour Cream and Onion is now a 170 gram can. Note that the can is the same size and looks virtually identical to the 200 gram can so most people wouldn’t notice the difference. You do however notice that there is a big gap between the top of the Pringles inside and the top of the can. Perhaps their advertising slogan should be ‘Pringles, same price, now with less!’

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