GUINNESS® Canada Wants Canadians to Know that "Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Green Beer"

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Guinness Canada

Mar 13, 2013, 10:37 ET

GUINNESS Canada kicks off St. Patrick's Day Campaign with a little help from some friends from Ireland

TORONTO, March 13, 2013 /CNW/ - GUINNESS, the uniquely authentic Irish beer and the best-selling stout in the world, kicked off its Canadian St. Patrick's Day festivities by welcoming six of Ireland's finest to "paint the town black" in Toronto. Handpicked for their Irish patriotism, love for Guinness and their desire to educate Canadians on the authentic way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, these Irish recruits have arrived on Canadian soil just in time to save March 17th.

"Canada consumes more green beer per capita than any nation should," said Paul O'Rourke, one of the Irish recruits from Dublin, Ireland. "Drinking green beer on St. Patrick's Day is completely un-Irish and I think it should be banned from pubs in Canada. I feel that it is my patriotic duty to stem the tide and show Canadians the authentic way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day."

In order to address the current state of St. Patrick's Day in Canada, Guinness sought out consumers (of legal drinking age) from Ireland who wanted to help reclaim the occasion.  The team of six Irish recruits who accepted the mission include: 

  1. Paul O'Rourke - a keen Guinness drinker and bad dancer from Dublin, Ireland
  2. Aisling Walsh - the beautiful graphic designer from Dublin, Ireland
  3. David Tunney - a proud Irishman and 5th generation Dubliner
  4. Mark Rossiter - an authentic Irish barman with the nickname "Happy" from Dublin, Ireland
  5. Ethel Horan - the self-proclaimed foodie from Offaly, Ireland
  6. Peter Munnelly - a rugby playing, fun loving bloke from Dublin, Ireland

"We are delighted to welcome this team of true Irish men and women to help save St. Patrick's Day in Canada," said Geoff Kosar, Marketing Director Guinness Canada. "One of the easiest ways to ensure you're enjoying an authentic St. Patrick's Day is to drink Guinness, responsibly of course. In my opinion, it's the only acceptable drink of choice on March 17th."

Here are some additional ways to make Canadian celebrations more authentically Irish.

  1. Choose authentic fare:
    • Say "no" to green beer and "sláinte" to real Irish brews such as Guinness
    • Or try a traditional Irish breakfast: black and white puddings (cakes of congealed blood and pork), grilled tomato, rashers (Irish bacon), eggs and bangers (Irish sausage)
  2. Choose an Irish venue:
    • Toronto is home to a number of Irish pubs, such as The Irish Embassy Pub and Grill. Check out our Pub Finder App at www.Facebook.com/GuinnessCanada and celebrate with Guinness!
    • Or go to Church! Since St. Patrick's Day is the feast day of Ireland's patron saint it was customarily celebrated by going to church. This St. Patrick's Day, Guinness Canada will provide a shuttle from St. Michael's Cathedral right to the Irish Embassy Pub & Grill.
  3. Sing and dance:
    • Traditional Irish song and dance are a great way to let loose and celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your friends. The Irish recruits will be spreading the word and "painting the town black" in Toronto and Montreal from now through St. Patrick's Day.

Consumers of legal drinking age are invited to visit www.Facebook.com/GuinnessCanada or www.Twitter.com/GuinnessCanada for real-time updates on what Guinness and the Irish recruits are up to.

Guinness also reminds Canadians to celebrate responsibly and find a safe way home. 

About GUINNESS®

GUINNESS® enjoys a global reputation as a uniquely authentic Irish beer and the best-selling stout in the world. Famous for its dark color, creamy head and unique surge and settle, this distinctive beer has been brewed at the St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin, Ireland since 1759. Over 10 million glasses of GUINNESS beer are enjoyed every single day around the world, and 1.8 billion pints are sold every year. GUINNESS is available in well over 100 countries worldwide and is brewed in almost 50. Also from the makers of GUINNESS, SMITHWICK'S, Ireland's oldest and best selling ale and HARP Lager, whose name pays tribute to the GUINNESS logo and the national symbol of Ireland. Additional information about GUINNESS can be found at www.guinness.ca.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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Image with caption: "Guinness Canada kicks off its St. Patrick's Day festivities by bringing some Irish folks to Canada to remind Canadians that friends don't let friends drink green beer. Photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland (CNW Group/Guinness Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130313_C4288_PHOTO_EN_24495.jpg

SOURCE: Guinness Canada

North Strategic 
Meghan Neufeld
416-473-6306
[email protected] 

or  

Diageo Canada
Alanna Stone
416-641-1712
[email protected]

Organization Profile

Guinness Canada