Sponsored by
Beachy Head Christmas Jumper real ale “insensitive”
The offending beer label
A FESTIVE real ale has left a bad taste in the mouth after its brewers were accused of trivialising the plight of people who kill themselves at a local suicide spot.
Beachy Head Brewer has released a seasonal tipple under the name of The Beachy Head Christmas Jumper and, after he spotted it for sale here in Eastbourne, one angry reader got in touch with the Gazette, slamming the choice of name as “insensitive”.
The man, who asked not to be named, had lost a loved one to suicide and said the beer’s label, which carries a view of the cliff tops, brought back painful memories.
Speaking this week he said, “It is not in very good taste.
“There are lots of people who has lost loved ones to suicide and Christmas is one of the times of year when they are most in your thoughts.
“Something like this could be quite upsetting if people came across it unexpectedly.
“There are lots of other things it could have been called.”
And it was a sentiment echoed by the cliff’s resident chaplaincy team, which patrols the coastline trying to talk down anyone considering suicide.
The group’s spokesman told the Gazette, “We are seeing increasing numbers of people coming to the Head who are struggling with serious difficulties often due to current economic uncertainties.
“Beachy Head is also a place of outstanding beauty and we would encourage a more positive message in the name of the locally made ale, rather than cause genuine upset amongst those who have lost a friend or relative at Beachy Head.”
However, Roger Green, head brewer at Beachy Head, which also produces a host of popular local drinks alongside the 7.2 per cent ale, said, “There is no evil intention.
“This started with a pump clip showing Father Christmas in a big fluffy jumper but when we produced labels that did not reproduce because we have a standard shot on our labels.
“It was purely a running joke on the famous woolly jumper. [The link to Beachy Head] was unintentional certainly.
“Some people have noticed it and I am sure they will not be the last.
“We are reluctant to change the name but we definitely did not intend to offend anyone.
“We know this is a very delicate subject and have the upmost respect for the job the chaplains do.”
l What do you think of the name? Is it insenstive or a storm in a teacup? Let us know by emailing eastbourne.herald@trbeckett.co.uk.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Eastbourne
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South west
Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
pensive
Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 12:52 PMBoycott this company everyone - hit them in the pocket where it'll hurt. They're getting free publicity by doing this and it's utterly disgraceful - thoughtless, uncaring, rotten company.
roneoron
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 12:26 PMI'm usually one of the first to pan pc and 'elf & safety idiocy, but this is beyond crass. Sounds like too much sampling of the product in the boardroom!
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.