Beer Drinking

The Miller "Genuine Draft" beer account, worth $70 million, has moved from the Martin Agency to Y&R in Chicago as reported in AdWeek on 1st September.

These are interesting times for that company.

As reported on 1st September, they've spent $30,000 to help publicise a Chicago demonstration on Labour Day "supporting illegal aliens" - and no we're not talking Mork of Ork, or those of that ilk.

"This time, as demonstrators march from Chinatown to House Speaker Dennis Hastert's (R-Ill.) Batavia office this weekend, they will have Miller Brewing Co., as a sponsor. The brewer has paid more than $30,000 for a planning convention, materials and newspaper ads publicizing the event."

"...Now, march advertisements feature not just the organizing committee's trademark blue globe but Miller's logo and a Spanish translation of its "Live Responsibly" slogan."

Now Miller are saying they didn't support that demonstration.

"* Miller Brewing Company has never supported illegal immigration and we have always supported the full enforcement of current U.S. laws.
* Miller did not sponsor the Labor Day immigration march held in Chicago.
* Going forward, Miller will closely review all requests for support from community and charitable organizations to ensure that we are not indirectly funding or associating our name with advocacy efforts on the immigration issue.
* We plan to stick to the business of brewing, marketing and selling great beer."

I like a good quality chardonnay and I don't care if that's a cliche. Is Miller available here? When it's my round, no one asks for it, pints of strangely named bitter seem to be the order of the day.