Johnnie Walker suspended in Taiwan
Sales of Johnnie Walker whiskey are to be suspended in Taiwan after an ad campaign was viewed to have slated the island's image.
Taiwanese MPs want to punish the makers of Johnnie Walker whiskey for a British ad campaign that some felt maligned Taiwan's image.
The legislature has passed a resolution urging the government to suspend sales for one year of the whiskey along with Smirnoff vodka and other products sold by the British company Diageo PLC.
MPs, who passed the resolution on Friday in a 115-100 vote, are angry about Smirnoff ads that appeared in the London subway last month.
The ads showed a half-wrapped Christmas gift bearing a label that said: “Warning. This gift will break down on Christmas morning. Replacement parts available from service centre. Box No. 260 Taiwan. Allow 365 working days for delivery.”
Taiwanese are sensitive to criticism about the island’s manufacturing economy.
Taiwan was once a major producer of cheap consumer goods, but it has worked hard in recent years to build a reputation for making high-quality products, such as laptops and computer chips.
