Pubs boycott Coopers beer

Pubs are boycotting Coopers following its beer appearing in a video created by the Bible Society Australia on same-sex marriage.

The video, called "Keeping It Light", features Christian MP Andrew Hastie and agnostic gay MP Tim Wilson discussing their opposing views on same-sex marriage while drinking Coopers Light.

The Bible Society said on its website that the Keeping it Light campaign was a bid to foster a respectful “national conversation” that has become “fraught with shallowness and contempt for those who have a differing opinion”.

Coopers has also released a commemorative light beer to celebrate 200 years of charitable work done by the Bible Society.

Coopers taps have since been switched off in the Old Bar, Sircuit nightclub and Mollies Bar & Diner in Fitzroy, Melbourne, and Sydney pubs including the Hollywood Hotel in Surry Hills, the Newtown Hotel and Hideaway Bar in Enmore.

The Union Hotel in Newtown posted on Facebook: "We're huge fans of the beer, but nothing short of genuine public support from Coopers for marriage equality would get us back to pouring their good stuff."

The hotel will donate money from the sale of their last remaining Coopers kegs to Beyond Blue.

The Old Bar posted: "Unfortunately we will no longer be purchasing any stock from Coopers. It's a sad day for us as over the many years we have built a strong relationship, yet after recent events it is very obvious that our values are at odds."

A spokesman for the Old Bar told The Guardian it was a “pro-equality” venue. “It’s not that we feel that Coopers have taken an anti-equality stance, [it’s] the fact that they have now very publicly aligned themselves with the church and the Liberal party we feel that’s at odds with us and our values.”

The Newtown Hotel posted: "Replacing Coopers Green on tap is a freshly kegged batch of Boxer Red Ale from our friends at Rocks Brewing Company and we're donating $1 from every pint sold in the month of March to GetUp!, who campaign on behalf of the LGBTIAQ+ community and are a strong voice for equal rights and marriage equality in Australia #keepingitequal."

The general manager of Sircuit Bar and Mollies Bar & Diner filmed himself throwing out their remaining bottles of Coopers, saying: "Sircuit and Mollies, like beer companies, have choices. I have made mine."

The Hollywood Hotel said it would be "reassessing our relationship with Coopers."

More than 1100 people have also signed a petition on change.org calling for a boycott on "Coopers Brewery until they support marriage equality in Australia."

Tim Wilson has responded to the backlash, telling news.com.au it is “absurd”.

“I’m disappointed Coopers appears to have distanced themselves from a sensible conversation that they should be proud to align themselves with,” he said.

“The objective of the Bible Society was to bring together two people who disagree on an issue they both feel passionately about and demonstrate they can disagree without being disagreeable.

“Our society needs more civil discussions, not less. You can’t persuade people to change their mind if you only talk to people you agree with."

Coopers has released two statements following the social media backlash.

The first said: ""With regards to the ‘Keeping it Light’ video from the Bible Society featuring Andrew Hastie and Tim Wilson, this is a light hearted but

balanced debate about an important topic within Australia. As a mature community it's a debate we need to have but in a good spirited and good natured way. That's how we've done business for a 154 years.

"Coopers isn’t trying to push religious messages or change your beliefs by celebrating 200 years of charitable work undertaken by the
Bible Society, in fact, over the years we have produced a number of different celebratory cans to recognise the historical achievements of a vast array of different organisations."

The second statement said: "We want you to know that Coopers did not give permission for our Premium Light beer to feature in, or ‘sponsor’ the Bible Society’s ‘Keeping it Light’ video featuring Andrew Hastie and Tim Wilson.

"We respect the beliefs of our community and do not wish to try and change them. Our family brewery is made up of individuals from a number of different backgrounds, all of whom hold differing views on politics and religion, which we think is reflective of the wider community.

"We would like all Coopers fans to know that we support and embrace all of our beer drinking community."

Many of the comments on the second statement on the Coopers Facebook page are from people saying they’ll never drink Coopers again. 

The Bible Society has issued a statement saying it was “entirely responsible for the ‘Keeping it Light’ video. It was not sponsored by Coopers. No money has changed hands between Bible Society and Coopers in regards to this campaign”.

“Bible Society remains grateful to Coopers for both the release of light beer commemorating our bicentenary and their support through their foundation for the distribution of bibles to the Defence Force and those who need them.”