A Poland-based Scotch whisky brand owner has been pulled up by UK responsible marketing organisation The Portman Group for its bottle shaped like a Tommy gun.
Bartex Bartol’s Cosa Nostra whisky has been found this week to have “a direct association with violent, aggressive, dangerous and illegal behaviour” thanks to its packaging. Responding to a complaint from a member of the public in the country, Portman’s Independent Complaints Panel has issued a ‘Retailer Alert Bulletin’ that asks off-premise operators not to place orders for Cosa Nostra for the next three months.
As well as the “direct link between the drinks and a dangerous weapon”, the panel also noted that the brand’s name refers to a syndicate of the Italian Mafia.
“In light of rising gun crime in the UK, it is deeply irresponsible of an alcohol producer to glamorise firearms and market a product in this form,” said panel chair Nicola Williams. “There were multiple and clear signs this product was in direct breach of the [Portman Group’s marketing] code and unfortunately follows a complaint for a similar product by the same producer which the panel upheld in 2014 [for Red Army vodka].
“I hope Bartex Bartol takes note that such products are completely unacceptable.”
The Portman Group is industry-funded to provide an informative-based approach to responsible marketing of alcohol on its ‘Code of Practice for the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks’.
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