Bristol bar is branded ‘Britain’s most right-on pub’ for refusing to serve ‘unethical’ major brands
Rum and WOKE please! Bristol bar is branded ‘Britain’s most right-on pub’ for refusing to serve ‘unethical’ major brands such as Coke, Bacardi, Thatchers, Polish lager Tyskie and Heineken
Red Lion in Bristol revealed it will not serve Coca-Cola, Heineken or ThatchersPub bosses say the makers of Thatchers have apparent links to Edward ColstonThey say Coca-Cola has a history of the misuse of water in third world countriesPub sparked a social media storm after revealing the list of drinks it won’t serve
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A bar has been branded ‘Britain’s wokest pub’ for refusing to sell a number of popular drinks for ethical reasons.
The Red Lion in Bristol revealed it will not serve Coca-Cola, Heineken, Polish lager Tyskie, Thatchers or Bacardi because of concerns over the brands’ histories.
Pub bosses say the makers of Thatchers have links to Edward Colston and slavery; Coca-Cola has a history of the misuse of water in developing countries; and Heineken has been accused of unethical practices in Africa.
The Red Lion also won’t stock Polish larger Tyskie after the company that owns it was linked to an anti-LGBTQ+ movement; and Bacardi has been linked with historical attacks in Cuba.
The pub sparked a social media storm after revealing the list of drinks it won’t serve, but landlord Lemmy is upset about the response to their decision, which was ‘made purely on their ethics.’
He said part of the backlash was because they ‘publicly supported the Colston Four’ – a group of activists who tore down the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol – one of whom is a customer at the pub.
The Red Lion in Bristol revealed it will not serve Coca-Cola, Heineken, Polish lager Tyskie, Thatcher’s or Bacardi because of concerns over the brands’ history
Staff at The Red Lion Pub on Whitehall Road, in the Redfield area of Bristol stand together after deciding to stop selling Thatchers cider for ethical reasons
The Red Lion in Bristol revealed it will not serve Coca-Cola, Heineken, Polish lager Tyskie, Thatchers or Bacardi because of concerns over the brands’ history
Lemmy added: ‘A lot of the reasons we’ve taken before in what we choose what to stock and what not to is because of land use, water use, worker’s rights – to name just a few.
‘We don’t serve Coca-Cola because they have a history of seriously bad use of water in third world countries, that not a lot of people know about. We have been labelled ”woke” and all these weaponised words – which have made us feel pretty vulnerable.
‘When we have taken the stance which we believe is ethical – we do not want to be made some kind of target.
This whole thing with Thatchers has veered into politics because of the Colston thing. Part of it is because we publicly supported the Colston Four – one of them actually drinks in our pub – but that’s only a part of it.
‘We actually stopped selling Thatchers during the pandemic, and haven’t had it on draft since, only cans. Thatchers did a really good job of bringing decent cider to the masses but that product is not the same product it was back then – it’s no fault of theirs.’
Earlier this month campaign group Countering Colston called for a boycott of the brand, because company director Martin Thatcher is a member of the Society of the Merchant Venturers.
The society has been criticised for its historical links to the slave trade and Edward Colston.
Lemmy said: ‘Like any product when you’re making millions of gallons, the product quality is bound to go down. Then when the Merchant Venturers thing came up, it was the final straw – and it would have been hypocritical of us to continue selling it after supporting the Colston Four.
‘People prefer the other ciders we sell anyway!’
In a Facebook post last week, the pub criticised the Merchant Venturers and confirmed that it would not be buying any more Thatchers cider and ‘when it’s gone it’s gone for good’.
Lemmy said: ‘We haven’t jumped on a band wagon here – it is part of who we all are and who we have always been. We really didn’t expect this and don’t see it as something that should be shouted about.’
The pub’s choices has caused a stir on social media.
Claire Horare commented on Facebook: ‘Embarrassment. Never going in that pub then. This pub is everything that is wrong in the modern day society.’
Victoria Gardner: ‘These landlords are pathetic!! What about not serving alcohol altogether as it wrecks thousands of families yet that’s never mentioned hypocritical sad people! Hope they don’t smoke, have any sugar and make your own clothes.’
Ben Kates said: ‘Oh how fabulously virtuous and woke of you. The past is the past.’
Graeme Patton added: ‘For God sake what next this country is becoming slaves to snowflakes.’
Colin Ford added: ‘Dear God the world is going mad thanks to snowflakes.’
