PERNOD RESIGNS FROM THE CENTURY COUNCIL

Pernod Ricard said it’s pulling its membership out of the Century Council (an industry-funded responsible-drinking organization) in a dispute over the group’s support of spirits sponsorships in NASCAR. Pernod’s departure will not be effective until November, which gives the group time to reach a possible compromise. In the letter, Pernod USA’s CEO Alain Barbet wrote:“We at Pernod Ricard firmly believe that is inappropriate for the distilled spirits industry to engage in sponsorship of motor sports. We also believe strongly that