Former minister Fred Teeven becomes foreman of brewers: ‘Enjoy a nice glass of beer’ | Financial

The former politician and former public prosecutor, who in his time was known by the Public Prosecution Service as a ‘crime fighter’, will work to ensure that “everyone can continue to enjoy a good glass of beer.” When he takes office, he is critical of discussions about prevention policy, which, according to him, threaten to turn into “truss.”

“Prevention is high on the agenda,” explains Teeven. “I am concerned about how the discussion about this is sometimes conducted. I think this should focus on how we combat alcohol abuse. The discussion should not turn to how we can make it as difficult as possible for the Dutch to enjoy a nice glass of beer. That’s a kind of gossip that I don’t feel at home with.”

Difficult time

The 63-year-old Teeven succeeds Stijn Deelen. The former sales director in the Netherlands for beer group AB Inbev led the umbrella organization through a difficult time for brewers. In 2020, the corona pandemic broke out, forcing cafes, clubs and eateries to close. As a result, beer sales fell sharply.

In the past, former Deputy Prime Minister Hans Wiegel, like Teeven a VVD member, was chairman of the brewers’ club for 28 years. When he left in 2012, he spoke of “the best job I’ve ever had”. According to Wiegel, beer and politics went well together. “Journalists know that a lot can be drunk in The Hague,” he said at the time.

Teeven was forced to resign as State Secretary for Security and Justice in 2015. Before that, there was a lot of fuss about a settlement that he concluded as a public prosecutor with drug dealer Cees H at the beginning of this century. Conflicting reports about the amount of that deal came to be known as the ‘receipt affair’.

Bus driver

After his departure from politics, Teeven became a bus driver, among other things. “Nice to steer, no bullshit,” he said earlier in De Telegraaf.

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