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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Adam Hughes, SWNS & Nick Wood

Bristol pub has claims to be 'wokest' after banning drinks

A pub has been labelled "Britain's wokest pub" for refusing to sell Coke, Heineken, Polish lager, Thatchers or Bacardi - for ethical reasons.

It doesn't sell Thatchers because its makers have apparent links to Edward Colston and slavery.

It also says Coca-Cola has a history of the misuse of water in Third World countries.

Heineken has been accused of unethical practices in Africa while Bacardi has been linked with historic illegal and attacks in Cuba.

The Red Lion, in Whitehall Road in Bristol, also won't stock Polish larger Tyskie after the company that owns it was linked to an anti-LGBTQ+ movement.

The pub has revealed a list of drinks it won't serve - and has caused a storm on social media.

But Lemmy, the pub's landlord, is upset about how people have responded to their decision, which was "made purely on their ethics".

He said: "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, workers' 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 long been criticised for its historic links to the slave trade and Edward Colston.

In a Facebook post last week, the pub criticised the Merchant Venturers and confirmed that it would not be buying any more Thatchers cider.

The pub's choices have caused a stir on social media, with Claire Horare saying: "Embarrassment. Never going in that pub then.

"This pub is everything that is wrong in the modern day society."

Andy Gainey said: ''Landlords of Bristol pub are clearly idiots.''

Lynn Moore said: ''Has the world gone Mad!!

Victoria Gardner added: ''These landlords are pathetic!! What about not serving alcohol altogether as it wrecks thousands of families?"

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