Manipulation
Manipulation is Big Alcohol’s activity to control its image. The alcohol industry engages in manipulation activities to protect and cultivate their image and the values of their brands. Deploying manipulation strategies serves for Big Alcohol to appear as “good corporate citizens”. The focus of the DUBIOUS FIVE strategy of manipulation is the alcohol company, their brands and value. Examples are Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), green-washing, pink-washing, rainbow-washing, or white-washing activities.
Latest cases of Manipulation

Corona’s “Natural Freezers” Distract from the Beer Industry’s Massive Ecological Footprint
Corona, owned by global alcohol giant AB InBev, is once again pushing a shiny PR campaign dressed up as environmental action – this time ...

Civil Society Capture in Action: How Uganda Red Cross Became a Pawn in Big Alcohol’s Game
Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL), a subsidiary of global alcohol giant Diageo, has launched a new campaign called Eyo Red Card, claiming to ...

IARD Exploits Decline In Youth Alcohol Use to Whitewash Industry Image
The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) – the alcohol industry’s global mouthpiece – has released a new report ...

Theatre of Deception: Diageo’s School Program in Brazil
Diageo – the alcohol giant behind brands like Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff – continues to push its so-called “Na Real” program into ...

Fake Transparency: Pernod Ricard’s QR Code Labels Do Nothing for Public Health
Pernod Ricard Philippines is rolling out QR code-enabled digital labels in the Philippines, marketing them as a step toward “consumer ...

Submitted Case: Irresponsible Fusion of Alcohol Promotion and Mental Health Advice
In a glaring display of corporate irresponsibility, United National Breweries (UNB) has come under fire for intertwining mental health ...

Heineken Secures 10 Years of Alcohol Marketing at Ajax – And Calls It “Sustainability”
Heineken’s 10-year sponsorship deal with Ajax football club is strategic move to entrench alcohol deeper into football culture while ...

Colombian Children Targeted by Diageo’s Misleading “Smashed” Program
Diageo’s “Smashed” program is making its way into Colombian schools under the guise of preventing underage alcohol use. As ...

Big Alcohol’s Diversion Tactic: Grupo Modelo Pushes “Responsibility”
Grupo Modelo, a subsidiary of AB InBev, wants you to believe that alcohol use is all about personal responsibility. A recent post on their ...