Why cider is a dirty work in British drinking circles?

[Captfan]

When I reading the newspaper telling a story about Mr Maurice Pratt, chief executive of the Irish cider marker C&C, I don't understand the following sentence:

In 2002, when the group's then private equity backers BC Partners first tried - and failed - to float the business, cider was still a dirty word in British drinking circles.

I don't quite understand the meaning of this sentence, why cider is a dirty word in driking circles?

Thanks for helping in advance.

Fan

[Conchita]

Welcome to the forum, Fan!

The best I can come up with in answer to your question is that, perhaps, cider wasn't strong enough to qualify as an authentic tipple?!

[prezbucky]

I don't understand it either... in the US, many ciders are at least the strength of the average beer. Woodchuck, for example, is I think something like 6% alcohol by volume. Most beers here are 4%-5%.

http://www.woodchuck.com/
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[Captfan]

Thanks, Conchita & prezbucky. I think Conchita is correct, that make sense. Because the following article says that originally most people can't accept cider because it is not strong enough.

[stew.t.]

hi

Just to qualify this a little Cider is not strong and real ale or bitter puritans would not consider it a beer, which it isn?t really ; )
You have to give this kind of statement some cultural backdrop. There are many phrases and words that you need to explain culturally. Again in reference to pubs if you had little context or knowledge of English drinking habits if you saw the phrase "a lager top" you no doubt owuld not have a clue. Incidentally it is a lager witha splash of lemonade. Because Shandy (haf lager/lemonade) is a dirty word amongst real male drinkers ; )

Hope to illuminate.
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