New England Brewing Faces Criticism Over Gandhi-Bot Name
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MyBeer Buzz
From NDTV:
A petition has been filed in a Hyderabad court against a US company for using Mahatma Gandhi’s image on beer cans and bottle. The petition filed by an advocate against Connecticut-based New England Brewing Company alleges it has insulted the father of the nation.
"We do apologise if the good people of India find our Gandhi-Bot label offensive. Our intent is not to offend anyone but rather pay homage and celebrate a great man who we respect greatly.
"We take great care in creating a product we hope will not be abused in the manner that Mahatma Gandhi spoke of when referencing alcohol," Westfall said in an e-mail response to PTI.
"Aromatic and fully vegetarian, Gandhi-bot is an ideal aid for self-purification and the seeking of truth and love," the company says on its website. 
This update from Rajan Zed:
Upset Indo-Americans have urged Woodbridge (Connecticut, USA) based New England Brewing Company to immediately withdraw its "Gandhi" beer, calling it highly inappropriate.
Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that peace icon Mahatma Gandhi abhorred drinking. Selling beer named after him was highly damaging to his legacy and hurt the feelings of Indo-Americans and Indians.
Zed, who is Chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, pointed out the marketing beer for mercantile greed using Gandhi was trivialization of Gandhian principles and belittling of the Indo-American community and Indians.
Mahatma Gandhi was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts, and he continues to be widely respected as one of the greatest moral and political leaders of the twentieth century, Rajan Zed noted.
New England Brewing Company, whose tagline is "Drink it. It’s good.", is a craft brewery launched in 2003 which claims to be listed as one of the top 20 breweries in the country, only second craft brewery on the entire East Coast to have its beer for sale in cans, and “bring passion for flavor”. Rob Leonard is founder/owner while Matt Westfall is the head brewer who created Gandhi-Bot beer. Its brews are claimed to be “loaded into over 300 bars and restaurants”.
Company website states: “Gandhi-Bot is an intensely hopped double India pale ale with a blend of three varieties of American Hops. Aromatic and fully vegetarian, Gandhi-Bot is an ideal aid for self-purification and the seeking of truth and love.” Beer can shows Gandhi’s sketch with one hand raised as in blessing.
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