Bars are throwing out this brand of beer in the name of marriage equality
A large beer company is dealing with the wrath of both bars and consumers, angry at its involvement in one country's marriage equality debate.
The company behind some of Australia's most popular "craft" beers, Coopers Brewery is alleged to have sponsored a video by the Bible Society of Australia, where two politicians of opposing sides debated whether the country should legalise marriage equality.
The "very warm chat" is all over a frosty Coopers Premium Light beer, which features prominently in the video called Keeping It Light. Okay then.
The video "puts two people together who would normally disagree. And shows how the Bible can help us all listen to each other," reads the description.
The brewery has also produced commemorative cans for the Bible Society's 200th anniversary, which features verses from -- you guessed right -- the Bible.
Naturally, people are p*ssed.
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Coopers said in a statement on Monday that it did not "sponsor" or give permission for its beer to appear in the Bible Society's video.
The cans it produced featuring Bible verses weren't trying to "push a religious message," it said but celebrate the Bible Society's charitable work. "We respect the beliefs of our community and do not wish to try and change them," the statement reads.
It didn't matter. Numerous pubs and bars around the country have stopped serving Coopers beer, or are throwing them the beers out.
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Bottles of Coopers beer were unceremoniously thrown into a bin by workers at Sircuit, a gay bar in Melbourne.
"Sircuit and Mollies, like beer companies, have choices. I have made mine. If Coopers wish to discuss, they have my number," reads a Facebook post from the bar's general manager, Chris Driscoll.
As a nation that loves beer, aggrieved consumers turning their back on the beverage has proven a powerful act in the past.
The huge Carlton United Breweries faced a widespread boycott of its products when it fired 55 workers, then offered them jobs at significantly reduced pay. The company caved into pressure following the boycott, allowing the workers to return on their original pay and conditions.
Now, let the Coopers "p*ss takes" begin.
