Two of the largest drinks companies in the world, Pernod Ricard and Diageo, have announced plans to lessen their environmental impact, with a special focus on drinking straws and cocktail sticks.
Pernod Ricard is going to stop the use of straws made of plastic and other non-biodegradable material, almost immediately, in all areas of their business as well as looking to their partners to adopt the same practices.
The French company relate the exponential growth in the use of straws to the renaissance in cocktails. Remember that the useful life of a cocktail straw rarely exceeds 20 minutes, but it can take 200 years to decompose.
Pernod’s involvement with the oceans, where the impact of plastic is the greatest, is longstanding. The Oceanographic Institurte Paul Ricard, which has been supported for more than 50 years by Pernod, was part of the decision in this environmental initiative.
Diageo, also, announced a plan to speed up the reduction in its environmental impact, also seeking to eliminate the use of plastic straws and cocktail sticks in its drinks.
For about a decade, Diageo has sought to reduce its environmental footprint by trying to use more recycled and recyclable materials.
The irresponsible use of plastic straws and cocktail sticks has had a growing impact in rubbish production, mostly in the sea where it ends up in significant quantities. Thus, the English company will stop using these materials, whether at its events or in day-to-day life.

Miami was chosen for the Grand Final competition. 52 bartenders from around the world will compete to become the 2016 World’s Best Bartender.
After hosting the final of its 2015 competition in Cape Town, South Africa, last month, Diageo Reserve World Class announced it will head to Miami for the last leg of its 2016 competition next year.
The first World Class global final was held in London in 2009, and was later hosted in cities around the world, including New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town.
While there can be only one global winner, the bartender talent on show throughout the World Class experience will demonstrate how the knowledge of quality spirits, the pedigree of ingredients and the pioneering of drinks-making techniques are cultivating next-level creativity underlining the fact that bartenders are as talented and creative as their chef counterparts.
The competition is part of a fully integrated program that aims to increase the quality of consumer's experiences in fine drinking, offering support and training to thousands of bartenders and bars to improve their skills. To date, the program has inspired and educated more than 25,000 bartenders worldwide while working in partnership with bars, restaurants, night-clubs and hotels to build their business and offer a better experience to consumers.

Cocktails of the world, unite. Because our time is coming! More than 40 bars and restaurants from Lisbon will participate in the first edition of the Lisbon Cocktail Week to be held from the 22nd of April to 1st of May, 2016. The event will be a ten day celebration of the cocktail (and not only gin cocktails) with a map of the best places in Lisbon, including the Gin Lovers Príncipe Real. During the Lisbon Cocktail Week you will be able to try drinks of each bar and restaurant and see the election of the Best Lisbon Cocktail. There will also be a happy hour - Cocktail Moment - where you pay 1 for 2 from 6 to 11pm. Cocktail Week Coming to Lisbon for the first time, the ten-day event is organized by Mario Batista with the help from Paulo Amado, Edições do Gosto, and has the support of brands like Compal, Veggie, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, PrimeDrinks and Schweppes. The sparkling water Água das Pedras is the official product and Vinhos do Douro and Porto are the institutional partners. "This is the ideal time for Lisbon to receive an event that is already a reference in other cities such as Paris and London. It is a unique opportunity to discover the best cocktails and celebrate the city in all its splendor", explains Mario Batista, the organizer.