Liquor company marketer says he bought meals for ABC officials(1)
By Chris Mazzolini & Veronica Gonzalez
A sales representative for one of the world’s largest liquor companies told state alcohol investigators that he bought meals for officials with New Hanover County Alcoholic Beverage Control, which would be a violation of state laws. N.C. Alcohol Law
But local ABC officials said Wednesday they haven’t dined on Diageo’s dime.
Andy Iredale, the North Carolina market director for Diageo North America, told N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement investigators that he “has paid for meals for other North Carolina local ABC board employees,” including employees in New Hanover, according to an ALE investigative report completed last month.
The report – which focused on meals that Diageo paid for officials at the Mecklenburg County ABC – doesn’t provide details on how many meals Diageo reportedly bought for New Hanover officials or for whom they were purchased.
But the state ABC commission has asked the liquor company to provide copies of any receipts associated with meals paid for officials in New Hanover and a handful of other ABC jurisdictions, said Agnes Stevens, a spokeswoman for the state commission.
Stevens said Diageo’s permit with the state requires the company to provide the requested information, but she did not know the timeline for receiving that information.
Iredale, reached at his office Wednesday, declined to comment and referred a reporter to Diageo’s corporate office.
London-based Diageo is one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in the world, producing many well-known brands, including Smirnoff, Captain Morgan and Jose Cuervo. Diageo markets more than 100 different brands of liquor that are sold in North Carolina.
