Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has called on politicians and other well-known people to "think again" when it comes to being photographed raising pints.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were yesterday photographed raising pints of Guinness in Chequers in London ahead of a bilateral meeting.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin meanwhile this week visited a brewery in Kenya during his trip to east Africa.
Barack Obama famously drank a pint of Guinness alongside his wife Michelle during their visit to the former US president's ancestral home of Moneygall, Co Offaly, in 2011.
Prince William and Kate Middleton also enjoyed glasses of stout during a reception at the Guinness Storehouse in March 2020.
While Queen Elizabeth II was served a pint during her visit to the Storehouse in 2011, although she declined to try the drink.
However, Dr Sheila Gilheany, CEO of AAI, said photos such as these gives the alcohol industry a "substantial endorsement" and enhances their market appeal.
Dr Gilheany said when powerful industries and companies such as Diageo seek "industry-friendly alcohol policies" they are more likely to get them after being endorsed by senior policymakers.
She said there had been no increase in excise duties for the past ten years, which she said was evidence of an industry-friendly policy.
She told RTÉ's Drivetime: "These things are very subtle the likes of Diageo make certain that when these occasions come up that it is a pint of their product that is in the hands of the politicians.
"How is it that Diageo, this absolutely massive global giant in the alcohol world is able to get its product onto the front pages of our national papers.
"They do it through careful and very clever PR work that so often is simply not analysed."
Visited a truly innovative brewery powered by biomass from sawdust, nut shells and sugar waste.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 17, 2024
Fascinating partnership between Irish firm, Designer Group and East African Breweries Ltd. A showcase of Irish engineering excellence. pic.twitter.com/ZYKc2YuE65
She said the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have good insight into public health matters as former ministers for health, which makes this incident so disappointing.
She added: "I would really ask them to think again when this sort of occasion comes up. And to say 'actually no, I don’t want to be associated with this particular product.'"
