Aussies vow to boycott a beloved beer brand after a controversial move: 'It's really disappointing'
- Replies 4
Aussie beer drinkers have been left furious after a recent move by a popular brewing company sparked a wave of backlash.
What seemed like a well-intentioned campaign quickly turned into a major controversy, with many loyal fans swearing off their favourite brew.
Tensions flared as the campaign ignited debates on conservation, local recreation, and corporate responsibility.
Great Northern Brewing’s recent charity campaign sparked outrage among its loyal beer drinkers, leading many to vow never to buy the brand again.
The campaign, which ran from 15 January to 31 March, aimed to raise funds for the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, with the brewing company matching donations up to $200,000.
Promoting an outdoor lifestyle, Great Northern sought to encourage its customers to donate in support of creating new national parks.
However, the campaign angered many in the four-wheel driving community, especially members of the social media group ‘4WD TV’.
'In an absolutely disgraceful move Great Northern Brewing has gone woke with a campaign to help get us locked out of forests,' they wrote.
Leonie Blackwell, from the social media page 'Victorians against the Great Forest National Park', expressed her disappointment, saying the company didn’t fully grasp the impact of its actions.
'It's really disappointing that major companies like that are blindly buying into supporting issues without really understanding the full context of the impact they will have,' she said.
Marcus Sutherland, a beer drinker, joined the chorus of disapproval, stating that the campaign had caused him to abandon Great Northern.
'We want people to leave our state forests alone,' he said in a video posted to social media.
He also pointed out the tensions between those who prefer state forests and those who support national parks, especially regarding camping with pets.
Another critic, Billy Menhennet, made his protest clear by crushing cans of Great Northern with his foot.
'What the bloody hell is Great Northern thinking, backing up the idea of locking up the bush. It's only going to cause more fuel for bigger fires,' he said.
The controversy didn’t stop there, as more beer drinkers joined in expressing their frustrations.
The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife clarified that 30 per cent of the funds raised through its donation page would go toward administrative costs.
Christopher Baker from the All Terrain Action Group warned against the increasing conversion of state forests into national parks.
'State forests provide unique conservation for natural heritage and recreational needs of the community,' he said.
'Converting state forests to national parks will undermine these tailored efforts and erode the local identity and connection to the land.'
So far, the campaign has raised just $2,286.
Despite the backlash, Great Northern continued to urge its drinkers to donate to 'help protect the great outdoors' and support national parks.
National parks, which offer higher levels of protection for biodiversity, often restrict activities like trail biking, hunting, and dog walking.
State forests, in contrast, allow a broader range of activities, including those mentioned.
Great Northern Brewing, launched in 2010 by the Japanese company Asahi, became Australia's top-selling beer in 2022.
Great Northern Brewing has been contacted for comment but has received no response.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Source: Instagram/oz.camper
Do you think Great Northern Brewing made a misstep, or was the backlash overblown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What seemed like a well-intentioned campaign quickly turned into a major controversy, with many loyal fans swearing off their favourite brew.
Tensions flared as the campaign ignited debates on conservation, local recreation, and corporate responsibility.
Great Northern Brewing’s recent charity campaign sparked outrage among its loyal beer drinkers, leading many to vow never to buy the brand again.
The campaign, which ran from 15 January to 31 March, aimed to raise funds for the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, with the brewing company matching donations up to $200,000.
Promoting an outdoor lifestyle, Great Northern sought to encourage its customers to donate in support of creating new national parks.
However, the campaign angered many in the four-wheel driving community, especially members of the social media group ‘4WD TV’.
'In an absolutely disgraceful move Great Northern Brewing has gone woke with a campaign to help get us locked out of forests,' they wrote.
Leonie Blackwell, from the social media page 'Victorians against the Great Forest National Park', expressed her disappointment, saying the company didn’t fully grasp the impact of its actions.
'It's really disappointing that major companies like that are blindly buying into supporting issues without really understanding the full context of the impact they will have,' she said.
Marcus Sutherland, a beer drinker, joined the chorus of disapproval, stating that the campaign had caused him to abandon Great Northern.
'We want people to leave our state forests alone,' he said in a video posted to social media.
He also pointed out the tensions between those who prefer state forests and those who support national parks, especially regarding camping with pets.
Another critic, Billy Menhennet, made his protest clear by crushing cans of Great Northern with his foot.
'What the bloody hell is Great Northern thinking, backing up the idea of locking up the bush. It's only going to cause more fuel for bigger fires,' he said.
The controversy didn’t stop there, as more beer drinkers joined in expressing their frustrations.
The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife clarified that 30 per cent of the funds raised through its donation page would go toward administrative costs.
Christopher Baker from the All Terrain Action Group warned against the increasing conversion of state forests into national parks.
'State forests provide unique conservation for natural heritage and recreational needs of the community,' he said.
'Converting state forests to national parks will undermine these tailored efforts and erode the local identity and connection to the land.'
So far, the campaign has raised just $2,286.
Despite the backlash, Great Northern continued to urge its drinkers to donate to 'help protect the great outdoors' and support national parks.
National parks, which offer higher levels of protection for biodiversity, often restrict activities like trail biking, hunting, and dog walking.
State forests, in contrast, allow a broader range of activities, including those mentioned.
Great Northern Brewing, launched in 2010 by the Japanese company Asahi, became Australia's top-selling beer in 2022.
Great Northern Brewing has been contacted for comment but has received no response.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Source: Instagram/oz.camper
Do you think Great Northern Brewing made a misstep, or was the backlash overblown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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