November 24, 2011 Vodka liqueur owner calls for more consistency after forced name change
Watchdog led us a merry dance – VC2
By Scott Wright
STIRLING-based VC2 Brands has hit back at the Portman Group after the watchdog’s complaints panel forced it to rename its fl agship product – despite giving it a clean bill of health for several years. VC2 has rebranded its Stiffy’s
vodka liqueur as Stivy’s after the panel ruled that the prod- uct’s name was in breach of Portman’s code of practice on the naming, packaging and promotion of alcoholic drinks. It said the brand name was
“inappropriately linked” to sexual success after receiving a complaint from Molson Coors, the brewer of Carling lager. However, the panel did not uphold two other elements of the complaint: that the brand’s cola and jaffa cake fl avours and its bright packaging appealed to people under 18, and that the product name could be seen
Now and then: VC2 renamed its brand Stivy’s in light of the panel’s ruling.
as an attempt to glamorise the strength of the drink. VC2 co-founder Graham Coull hit back at the judge- ment, describing the perceived
link with sexual success as “ridiculous” and criticising the watchdog for being incon- sistent in the advice it gives to drinks companies. Coull told SLTN that the Port- man Group had six opportu- nities a year to advise if it had any concerns about the brand’s name, labelling or marketing but decided not to. “I understand why they might want to look again at something if a complaint came in, but just three weeks before- hand they had approved a new label – a completely new label with Stiffy’s on it,” he said. “Then they came back and said they were no longer ap- proving the label and that we had to change the name. “I don’t have an issue with the Portman Group, but there needs to be consistency in their advice. The danger in what they’ve done is that no brand out there can put a value to their name on the balance
Board backs outdoor policy
GLASGOW licensing board has rebuffed suggestions it’s no longer promoting an al fresco cafe culture in the city. A local press report revealed
that several operators had recently been refused licences for outside areas, including Italian restaurant Barolo, which had applied for a licence for a second outdoor area, and Indian restaurant The Dhabba.
Mario Gizzi, director of Barolo
owner the Di Maggio’s Group, was quoted in the Evening Times as saying there now seemed to be a “totally different view” from the board as regards serving alcohol outside. But a board spokesman insisted that each application was judged on its own merits. “Outside drinking areas can be an attractive feature and
Night of trade
celebration Our full photo review of the 2011 SLTN Awards in Glasgow
pages 19-28
they can add to the general vibrancy of the city,” he said. “But we also fully appreciate
that the wish to have these areas has to be balanced against the needs of residents, communities and customers.” He added that several premises, including Browns and Jamie’s Italian on George Square, were granted outdoor licences on October 31.
Winning with
festive wine Suppliers and brands give their tips for Christmas lists page 30
sheet, because it can be banned by the Portman Group. “What Portman is being is re-
active – not proactive.” A spokeswoman for the Port- man Group defended its posi- tion, stating that it is an advi- sory body that does not give approval to products and mar- keting and that it is completely separate to the independent complaints panel. Asked why the group had only
now decided the name was no longer acceptable – it had been called Stiffy’s since its launch in 2002 – she said the panel felt it was worth a fresh look as “we live in a changing climate” as regards alcohol. The Portman Group is cur-
rently consulting on a review of its code of practice, which is now in its fourth edition; it was fi rst launched in 1996. Molson Coors declined to comment on its complaint.
David, left, with Jamie Milne.
Whisky on the brain
GLENEAGLES bartender David Sinclair was this month declared the Glenfi ddich Malt Mastermind for 2011. The competition, which seeks to fi nd the UK on-trade’s top malt enthusiast, culminated this year with David’s victory over seven bartenders in the fi nal at The Savoy in London. Finalists were asked to show their knowledge of malt and their creativity by presenting a new Glenfi ddich serve. And David stole the show with Equilibrium – a drink the judges said combined sophistication with a modern twist.
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