Deborah Brenner Awarded Drinks Innovator Award For Her Work In Addressing Sexual Harassment In The Industry

Brenner launched 86 Harassment, a key initiative in energizing the fight against sexual harassment of women in the workplace, in March 2024.
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Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits and 86 Harassment Council Member, Deborah Brenner, has received the SevenFifty Daily 2024 Drinks Innovator Award for her work in addressing sexual harassment within the drinks industry. 

Women Of The Vine & Spirits and 86 Harassment 

Brenner launched 86 Harassment, a key initiative in energizing the fight against sexual harassment of women in the workplace, in March 2024. The initiative offers education, training, and a 24/7 confidential support line for survivors in both English and Spanish. 86 Harassment is an initiative that is part of Brenner’s other organization, Women of the Vine & Spirits, which is dedicated to supporting and empowering women in the industry. Support is available at all times to employers, employees, and patrons, free of charge. 

Another of Brenner’s aims in launching the initiative was to develop a model that can be used by other worldwide industries. It is Brenner’s hope that this will create more equitable workspaces for women in a traditionally male-dominated environment. 

SevenFifty Daily’s Drinks Innovators Program 

SevenFifty Daily’s Drinks Innovators Program honors people in the industry who are addressing important issues, and highlights their efforts to make the alcohol space more inclusive for all. 

Speaking about the award, Brenner said: “I am incredibly humbled to have received this recognition and to accept it on behalf of everyone who worked so hard to make 86 Harassment a reality. 

“This recognition reflects the phenomenal support of our industry sponsors who have committed financial support, many hours, brain power, and innovation to the creation and evolution of 86 Harassment. I can’t thank the team at Brown Forman, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Pernod Ricard, Republic National Distributing Company, Spirits Canada, and Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America enough — this recognition is for all of us.”

86 Harassment is funded by industry sponsors such as the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and Pernod Ricard North America. This funding allows Women of the Vine & Spirits and 86 Harassment to provide vital support to sexual harassment survivors. 

Beth Squires

Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash with over half a decade of industry experience. She possesses comprehensive knowledge of the global whisky landscape, spanning everything from heritage and production to complex market analysis. A graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme, which champions women in whisky, Beth is a dedicated advocate for diversity and sustainability, focused on highlighting the innovation and storytelling that define the modern whisky industry.

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