Pass the smelling salts, please
What do you make of that: First Anheuser-Busch used its pricing power to engage its rivals in a price war which must have cost them an arm and a leg. Then the brewer latched onto lowbrow humour that is best left unmentioned. Ok, if you must, here’s an example. A recent ad for its Bud Extra with caffeine, ginseng and guarana reads: “You can go home early when you’re married. Go longer with Bud Extra. The beer … that will unshackle the ball and chain from your evening. So go ahead, linger.” Your reaction? A loud yawn? Interestingly, though, Anheuser-Busch next turned around and bewailed the low image of beer in the eyes of the public. That begs the question: Who is responsible for that? The best is yet to come: Anheuser-Busch has since been calling on its competitors for a generous support of its plan to do some generic beer advertising that will raise the image of beer. You have to give it to Anheuser-Busch, few could have pulled that one off.
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