Globalisation:WSTA, SWA and Diageo relations
Common Company Membership Between WSTA and SWA
Beam Global Spirits and Wine Inc, Berry Bros and Rudd Ltd, Chivas Brothers Ltd, Daigeo Plc, Diageo Ireland, Gordon and Macphail and Justerini & Brooks Ltd. [1] [2]
Diageo's Infiltration of SWA and WSTA
The Chief Executive of Diageo, Paul Walsh is also the chair of the SWA. Furthermore, four out of sixteen SWA council members are employed by Diageo and the company is the largest financial sponcer of the SWA. As employees of Diageo hold such powerful positions in the SWA and the company essentially funds the association, an educated conclusion can be made that the interests of Diageo will always be central to the SWA's actions and plans. Thus, it can be viewed a lobbing vehicle for Diageo's wants/needs. The companies membership to many of the WSTA committees strengthens its leveraging power with the organisation. Diageo sits on the: Imported Spirits Committee, the public Affairs Network, the Technical Committee and the Wine Importers Panel.
The aforementioned memberships and positions grant Diageo influence which a single company could not achieve alone. As the WSTA and the SWA are collectives of many beverage producers, these privileges afford Diageo the ability to influence companies attitudes and outlooks towards the minimum pricing debate. As these collectives represent a huge number of the UK's beverage producers, their stance on the issue hold considerable political clout, consequently facilitating the spread of Diageo's agenda.
