News in brief

Red Stripe responsible approach paying off

Beer giant Red Stripe is playing its part in taking corporate social responsibility to the next level by ensuring that an impenetrable identification (ID) system exists to keep underage drinkers locked out of events which it sponsors.

The ID system, which was officially put to the test at the hugely popular Smirnoff Dream Weekend in Negril in August last year, has reaped great success in the first year of implementation. This comes against the backdrop of a staggering 74 per cent of Jamaican schoolchildren admitting to imbibing alcohol. The 2006 survey by the National Council on Drug Abuse also shows that alcohol remained the most abused substance among students in Jamaica.

"With these worrying figures on alcohol abuse, we made a strong statement about the dangers of alcohol usage by minors through the enforcing of our Be Legal campaign," head of marketing at Red Stripe, Jomo Cato, says. 

Jermaine Bibbons: New spirits brand manager for Jamaica

Jermaine Bibbons has been appointed to the role of spirits brand manager, effective July 1.

Jermaine moves over from Guinness where he has been reaching for greatness, and will now be creating extraordinary experiences with Smirnoff, inspiring progress with Johnnie Walker and celebrating with Ciroc along with the other star brands in their spirits portfolio.

Bibbons joined Diageo two years ago from the Barbados Investment and Development Company, as assistant brand manager for Guinness.

He has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, Barbados and St Kitts. Described as the perpetual student of marketing, Bibbons possesses a creative flair and a sharp knowledge of the streets.