The elephant in the room, and the monster in the brewery

Trigger warning: sexual assault

The craft and independent beer scene has changed a lot over the past 10-15 years. We’ve seen growth in the number of independent breweries and in the regions they’re located in. You can now get great beer all over the country. We’ve also seen growth in the people drinking craft and independent beer.

In days gone by, indy brewers and beer drinkers were a relatively tight-community. This was even though we lived up and down the country; from up north to Invercargill. Mostly, everyone knew each other, and mostly everyone was in the community to support each other. And also, to hold each other to account. The community celebrated the great beer, helped improve the bad beer and, behind the scenes, could call each other out for ill-convinced marketing or bad behaviours.

There’s good and there’s bad in all communities. There always has been. The growth in the indy beer community is a good thing. It will help sustain us over what are, currently, hard times. But, the growth has created bigger, and more regionally-focused communities. And, this has given the bad more space to hide.

There’s no doubt that not all beer people are good people. It’s time for us to come together as one, to acknowledge that and to drive change.

In an article in in 2018, I noted that we had to do more to acknowledge the history of women in beer and in our own beer community. I said we needed to take a stand against sexism. I noted that when women are not viewed as individuals but as objects, it is easier for people to assault them. Now I am telling you that these assaults happen. They happen in our beer community.

Recently, I had reason to call out some bad behaviour – the elephant in the room, the monster in the brewery. I posted about what was happening on my personal (and private) Facebook page. I did so without naming names. It seems, for many, that wasn’t necessary. That post has led to people telling me of further instances of bad behaviour and assault perpetrated by this brewer, and by others. I am now the keeper of these stories.

The stories I have been told, have been told privately. I one hundred percent believe them and the women. I know they were assaulted. My biggest challenge is why other people won’t believe what they are hearing. Why?

Over the past few weeks and months, I’ve been told by too many people that they need to hear from one of the victims of assault directly. I’ve been told that the victims have to say something in order for these assaults to be believed to be true. People tell me that the victims have to report their assaults for them to have happened.

You know what, that’s part of the problem.

Maybe people have forgotten what happened to the victim of Scott Kuggeleijn. He was a “promising sports person” and his victim was slut-shamed. Just google the case. It is a shocking example of Aotearoa New Zealand’s treatment of women who are assaulted. Here we’re talking about so-called “rockstar brewers”. And here, we’re again denying the victims the reality of their experiences.

Maybe people have forgotten the statistics. Approximately one in five women in Aotearoa experience a serious sexual assault.[1] That’s got to be women that you know. Only 10% of these assaults will be reported and only three will progress to charge being laid and a court process. Only one of those court processes is likely to end in a conviction.

My understanding of the statistics is that the people committing assaults against women, and against our rainbow community, get away with it 99% of the time. You know what all this says?

Men can assault with impunity, without the worry of being held to account. You know why?

First of all, the victims have to have fully process what has happened to them, to understand that it was assault and that was not their fault. When women are so regularly and casually assaulted it is sometimes hard to see the wood for the trees. Dick pics are assault. Groping is assault. But, these things happen to women ALL THE TIME. Sadly, many women wonder what they have done to deserve it. They see themselves as to blame.

Let me make it clear. No woman is responsible for, or to blame, for being assaulted.

Victims have to be strong enough to re-traumatise and re-victimise themselves by reporting their assault. Why would they do that when they likely think they’re alone?

Most of the victims I’ve heard about might not know they are one of many. What they do know is, that if they say anything, they’ll likely be told they are a liar. Or worse, a drunk or a slut. They’ll have to stand up to the brewer who assaulted them, and all those that stand behind him. Their lives will be exposed and further ruined. They don’t deserve that.

What the victims deserve is to have their stories told, to be believed and for people to care. It doesn’t matter who tells you about an assault. You need to believe women and other victims. Why would we lie about these things? What good does it serve us? I can tell you – none. We’re not trying to protect ourselves for shits and giggles. We’re doing it as our safety depends on it.

Our safety depends on you making a decision. A decision to stand up and to speak out. A decision to take action. You don’t have to know who the victims are, or the brewer – although the sooner they are widely known the better – you just have to know what you would do. And, you need to do it. For the victims and for the good of our beer community. We can be better. We can be safer and we can show that we care.

 Note: a woman is any person who identifies as a woman.

Where to get help:

Rape Crisis -http://www.rapecrisisnz.org.nz/ - 0800 88 33 00

Safe to talk: a 24/7 confidential helpline -https://safetotalk.nz/ -0800 842 846

Women’s Refuge https://womensrefuge.org.nz - 0800 733 843 (females only)

Male Survivors Aotearoa -https://malesurvivor.nz/contact/ (males only)

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111

[1] https://www.helpauckland.org.nz/sexual-abuse-statistics.html