France’s alcohol addiction prevention body has won a court ruling to ban an online promotion for Glenfiddich Scotch whisky, owned by William Grant & Sons.
William Grant’s distributor in France, Lixir, last week lost its battle with the Association Nationale de Prévention en Alcoologie et Addictologie (ANPAA).
It is the latest in a series of spats between the ANPAA and drinks firms.
The ANPAA complained about “The Path of Initiation of the Glenfiddich Club” promotion, which was scheduled to appear on the brand’s French website until 31 July 2010 and offered users the chance to win a holiday.
A Paris court agreed that the promotion was “propaganda in favour of alcohol” and that it contravened French advertising law. It ordered Lixir to remove it or face a EUR10,000 (US$13,600) fine for each day of non-compliance.
Lixir was unavailable for comment when contacted by just-drinks.