Guinness for Health

The World updated me on some Guinness information today.

Britain - Biggest market for Guinness
Ireland - Second biggest market for Guinness...last year
Nigeria - Biggest market for Guinness...this year

Oh, Ireland...really? You drop your beer mug one year, and this is what happens. How do you think that precious dirty pint is going to feel about this?

Guinness' parent company Diageo had this to say about it:

"In Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, the brewer invested in an advertising campaign called "Guinness Greatness" designed to appeal to cachet-seeking male drinkers. Meanwhile, the Irish are spending less time in the pub, the venue for most local Guinness sales, after the nation banned smoking in public places and commutes home from work grew longer, Diageo said."

Apparently, Nigerian sales account for half of Guinness's international sales. And if you're wondering about the presence of Irish pubs outside of Ireland, there are plenty. The Irish Pub Company has been helping pub owners the world over set up their own little slice of Ireland.

But this is a shock to the system. Guinness is almost synonymous with Ireland, at least in my mind's eye. Touring the Guinness factory is a serious tourist thing to do in Dublin because of the history of the factory, not to mention the pint & amazing view at the end of the tour, assuming it's not raining (finish laughing before you continue reading). The ads on display were my favorite part. They were definitely my husband's favorite part as we currently have 2 hanging in our dining room. Back in the day, Guinness was practically prescribed by doctors...well, sort of.


The BBC said the original campaign of "Guinness for Health" stemmed from market research in the 1920's "when people told the company that they felt good after their pint." A few other uses as of 2003:

• In England, post-operative patients used to be given Guinness, as were blood donors, because of its high iron content. This practice continues in Ireland.
  
  
• Pregnant women and nursing mothers were at one stage advised to drink Guinness - the present advice is against this.

My husband stands behind the benefits for blood donors, though he insists he never got one. I believe him since he isn't usually a stout drinker. But if he is going to go that route, only a Guinness will do.

Sláinte (pronounced slahn-cha)! Cheers!