8/26/2009

FTC says beer cans with university colors are a "grave concern"

I won't make any comment on this:

A Federal Trade Commission attorney criticized a controversial Anheuser-Busch InBev NV marketing campaign that features Bud Light cans decorated with college-team colors, urging the brewer to drop any plans for similar promotions.

Janet Evans, a senior FTC attorney who oversees alcohol advertising, says the federal agency has "grave concern" that the campaign could encourage underage and binge drinking on college campuses. Dozens of schools have protested the promotion, with some threatening legal action over trademark issues.

"This does not appear to be responsible activity," Ms. Evans said in an interview Monday. "We're looking at this closely. We've talked to the company and expressed our concerns."

Carol Clark, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Anheuser-Busch, said in a statement the company told the FTC that the special beer cans will be sold only at retailers whose customers are 21 years and older. . . .


Meanwhile in the UK.

Pubs warn over plastic pints plan

Plans to replace the traditional pint glass with one made of shatter-proof plastic will not be accepted by drinkers, the pub industry has warned.
The Home Office has commissioned a new design, in an attempt to stop glasses being used as weapons.
Official figures show 5,500 people are attacked with glasses and bottles every year in England and Wales.

The Home Office has commissioned a new design, in an attempt to stop glasses being used as weapons.
. . .


UPDATE: Apparently, we should also be concerned about candle-lit dinners.

Thanks to David Mastio.

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1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

According to other news reports Anheuser-Busch is already back away from this plan because of complaints by colleges and universities.

It will be interesting to see if Anheuser-Busch makes it. They were larded up in late 2008 with $52 billion of debt. According to a CNN article they are raising beer prices across the board at the same time beer consumption is on the decline. A-B has already seen a lot of cost cutting to help pay for its massive debt.

Other companies that were purchased or expanded during during the credit bubble with too much debt are already dropping like flies. Reader's Digest, General Growth, Idearc, Fairpoint Communications, etc. to name a few.

My understanding is something like a 1/2 trillion dollars in corporate debt is going to go bad over the next 3 or 4 years.

8/26/2009 10:49 AM  

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