Complaint about Ashleigh Barty drinking beer during Australian Open celebrations rejected

The Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code has dismissed a complaint about Ashleigh Barty drinking a beer in the aftermath of her victory at the Australian Open.

Barty stormed to glory at the Australian Open last month, defeating Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 in the final.

The triumph saw the 25-year-old earn her first ever Grand Slam title on home soil and become the first Australian to win the tournament since Christine O’Neil in 1978.

Shortly after the final, Barty joined the Channel Nine crew, comprising host James Bracey and former tennis stars Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik, to discuss her historic achievement.

During the segment, Barty was offered a Corona beer. She accepted and had a sip, unwittingly sparking controversy.

Although most fans loved the moment, arguing that it showed a down-to-earth side to Barty, former Australian Idol host James Mathison took issue.

“Our glorification and glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can’t even celebrate success without booze on live TV,” Mathison wrote on Twitter. “It’s bizarre.

“Imagine if this was in Canada and the broadcaster hoisted a joint onto their new champion?”

Mathison then followed up on his point: “I think I was trying to highlight how booze, which has enormous health, economic and family impacts get lionised yet all other ‘drugs’, many less harmful are maligned.”

The ABAC also received a separate complaint, which read: “The segment glorified and glamorised alcohol and was very deceptive if it was a paid promotion.

“Why else are they doing it if it wasn’t a paid stunt? It’s poor when many children were up watching the final and Ash Barty is a role model for many girls too.”

The ABAC subsequently looked into the placement of