BrewDog: controversial beer brand celebrates 18th birthday with £1.80 pints

The controversial beer brand BrewDog has reached 18 years old, which might be viewed as a remarkable feat.

Over the years, numerous accusations have been levelled at the company and its former CEO – now self-titled “Captain” – James Watt, including poor working conditions, misogyny and transphobia.

In 2022, founder Watt was accused of inappropriate behaviour, which he denied. In the same year, the company lost its status as a B Corp, a certificate offering an ethical commitment to the environment, staff, and community.

But despite widespread and less favourable publicity, the Scottish brewer has somehow endured and it is celebrating its 18th birthday by giving away pints of its flagship Punk IPA for £1.80 over the coming bank holiday weekend (April 18-21).

BrewDog is well known for promotions such as this, possibly in the hope of masking all that tricky news with flamboyant shows of affordability.

Because there is a lot. Only last year, it faced anger from employees after dropping out of the accredited real living wage scheme, hiring new staff of the legal minimum instead of freezing pay for bar staff in a bid to reduce costs.

And so spare a thought for those workers who will have to pour endless pints of £1.80 beer this weekend while being paid arguably below what they should.

drink.brewdog.com