Trends in alcohol marketing New products Digital marketing Alcohol as a health food Stakeholder marketing
Like other products, selling alcohol as a health food –All natural, organic etc. –“Functional” food – fitness friendly –Diet drink –Particularly targeted at women
All natural and organic
Food & Natural Claims Beer * Natural junk foods Calories in one serving: 150 (90 fat) 10 grams of fat, 150 mgs sodium
Natural vodka
Natural beer
Vodka from soy – gluten-free!
Organic tequila
Natural tequila
Natural “binge in a can”
“Binge in a can” with natural Brazilian healing powers
Fitness friendly
A personal trainer from Holland
Antioxidant beer
“Beer plus” – a smart choice
Beer as the “fountain of youth”
“Full speed” beer
Sports celebrity spokespersons
Sports sponsorships
A diet drink
Food company “nutri-washing” Beer * PEPSICO
A “smart choice” beer – only 95 calories
Even the can is slim
No carbs – even better
No carbs – no question
But for public health, there are questions Marketing alcohol as a health food confuses the public –Illegal under U.S. law to make any health claims –Alcohol and health situation complex – advertising only and overwhelmingly shows one side of the story –Masks the complex relationship between drinking and obesity, diabetes and other health conditions
Solutions? Warning labels? –Warnings cannot counter the weight of the advertising –48% of AMRO countries have warnings on ads and on containers –Warnings quickly become invisible