Aussie monarchists in a froth over beer ad supporting 'publicans'

The billboards advertising Cooper's beer said: 'Forget the monarchy, support the publicans'. The play on the word 'republicans' a red flag in the former British colony, where sentiments are divided on the issue of the Queen.

Coopers has withdrawn this billboard advertising its beer because it riled monarchists by poking fun at their campaign to make Australia a republic

Leading monarchist Philip Benwell said the Adelaide-based brewer had used its advertising to sell a political message.

Benwell, chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, said: ''Why couldn't the advertisement have begun "Forget the republic?" We take a lot of things in good humour but this one we felt was too much of a political statement and therefore we lodged a formal protest."'

Benwell complained last week to the brewery as well as regulators of political and general advertising standards. The regulators have yet to respond.

'Many of our members also protested to Coopers and quite a few of them are drinkers of Coopers beer so Coopers apologised and took the billboards down,' he added.

Coopers' Executive Chairman Glenn Cooper wrote to Benwell. In an e-mail, he said: 'It was not our intention to attack the monarchy nor in any way was it a political statement.

'I can understand your views and ensure you that the individual Coopers have varying views on the subject of the monarchy,' he added, referring to members of the family that owns the brewery.'

The century-old debate about whether Australia should have a president to replace the British monarch as its head of state is a divisive issue that culminated in a referendum in 1999 that overwhelmingly supported the constitutional monarchy.

The debate has been revived with the election in November of republican Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. His predecessor, John Howard, had been a staunch monarchist who republicans argue was instrumental in the failure of the 1999 referendum.

Communications consultant, Jane Caro, said: 'Everyone who doesn't have a sense of humour says anything that's really funny goes too far.

'I think the monarchists should apologise to us all for making the world a little duller.'