From Wine & Spirits Daily (yes, the Beer Business Daily folks do other drinks, but this sub is free, for now):
In some rather surprising news, Mothers' Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is entering the drinks business but not in the way you may think. In conjunction with Hill Street Marketing, the anti-alcohol group is launching MADD Virgin Drinks that include three "cocktails" without alcohol (Mojito, Margarita and Pina Colada), along with a virgin Lager & Lime and virgin red and white wine. They said in a statement that "distribution is not yet confirmed," and Hill Street is currently in talks with "traditional retailers" to carry their product. Hmmm. Do you think it will catch on?
Could I just quote you a quote, from a story on the alcohol-energy drink 'controversy' that ran about a year ago in the Attleboro, Mass. Sun Chronicle? These same folks are warning that teens (and retail clerks) might mistake boozed-up energy drinks for plain old energy drinks.
Of particular concern to industry watchdogs are similarities in the appearances of alcoholic and non-alcoholic energy drinks. "They clearly shouldn't be in the same section," said David DeIuliis spokesman for the Massachusetts chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)."Not only product placement, but also packaging is a concern," said Wallace, the SADD executive who noted that product coloring, logos and design appear to be aimed at teens.
Now, take a look at the packages they're putting these so-called 'virgin' drinks in (I can't figger how to get the images into this post, or I would). They clearly shouldn't be in the same section as real good booze; this deceptive packaging is a concern. Someone could easily pick up this stuff by mistake, thinking it's the real thing, only to find once they've gotten home that there's no booze in the booze. Think of how pissed people will be to find they'd been duped.
What's that? That couldn't happen? No one's that stupid?
Bingo. Now could someone tell MADD that?
This is just simply unbelievable? Is this a stunt to prove their point? What are they thinking? Will this erode their creditability?
2 comments:
It all says virgin. So if someone picks it up thinking otherwise, it's their own damn fault. No different than sorting through various margarita mixes.
But yes, it does seem odd that MADD would put out a product like this.
NA beer and mixes have been out there for quite a while, but not being much of a wine guy, I have no idea if there is other NA wine out there. So maybe it would be a good sub (if it tastes good) for those unable to consume alcohol for whatever reason.
Personally, I won't buy it either way, specifically of because of the organization it supports.
The point being, Eric, is that MADD has continually taken the stance that alcopops look too much like energy drinks and fruit drinks and that someone could unsuspectingly pick one up not knowing it has alcohol in it. NOW, they are trying to sell something in the same market w/out alcohol. Seems to me like they are blurring the line even further on what is alcohol and what isn't. Let's not also forget that MADD as also gone off their original intent of stopping drunk drivers to down right prohibition. So this all screams bad idea based on their previous messages.
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