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Diageo drops Discus membership

Smirnoff owner Diageo will end its membership with trade body the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) in 2023 to focus on its ‘key strategic priorities’.

US spirits Discus
US trade group Discus said its membership has “significantly expanded” in recent years

Discus represents spirits producers in the US, advocating on legislative, regulatory and public affairs issues impacting the industry at local, state, federal and international levels.

Diageo confirmed it had decided not to renew its partnership with the trade body next year.

A Diageo spokesperson said: “Like most companies, we periodically review our memberships in industry organisations, and we make decisions based on what we believe is in the best interest of our company.

“At this time, we have chosen to focus our resources on key strategic priorities which we would like to pursue, but we will remain an active and committed player in the industry.”

Diageo said it would continue to ‘educate consumers about responsible consumption’ through Responsibility.org, which is aligned with Discus.

It would also continue to help facilitate ‘access by all to the spirits industry for greater diversity, equity and inclusion’ and ensure the industry is ‘environmentally sustainable by design’.

The statement continued: “We value our history and relationship with Discus and the gains we have made together that have created a stronger industry. We look forward to working with Discus and its member companies on issues of mutual interest.”

President and CEO of Discus and Responsbility.org, Chris Swonger, voiced his appreciation of Diageo’s “significant contributions over the years”.

He noted that the organisation has “significantly expanded its membership” over the past three years, as well as created a new partner advocacy programme.

Swonger continued: “Broadening our organisation has enabled our advocacy successes and made Discus stronger.”

Discus will “continue to promote consumer convenience, support [the] effective three-tier system, and seek to eliminate unfair tax discrimination”, Swonger added.

Pronghorn, a diversity initiative co-founded by Diageo, joined Discus’s Partner Membership Program last month.

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