Homer Simpson’s favourite beer has been found in breach of the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code and pulled from Australian shelves.
Woolworths, through its Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores, began stocking a replica of the cartoon brew in May, but was forced to can the cans this week, the Herald Sun reports.
“The association of The Simpsons with the product name and packaging is so strongly entrenched in Australian popular culture that the name and packaging will draw the attention of under 18 year olds,” the ABAC panel decided.
“Measures to market the product without references to The Simpsons characters or images cannot be effective to overcome the strong and evident appeal of the product material to underage persons.”
Brewer Lion Nathan also produced their own Duff Beer in the 1990s but that ended when Twentieth Century Fox, which broadcasts The Simpsons, won a Federal Court battle over the brand’s trademark.
A Woolworth Liquor Group spokeswoman said the ABAC panel had accepted the retail chain was “committed to the standards of good alcohol beverage marketing”.
“We respect the panel’s adjudication and will discontinue the stock,” the spokeswoman said.