Anheuser-Busch Urged to Abandon "Idiotarod" Beer Promotion

Center For Science in the Public Interest ^ | February 28, 2007

[Eric Blair 2084]

WASHINGTON—Anheuser-Busch should drop its sponsorship of a Washington, D.C. charity event called the "Idiotarod," organized by a local group that goes by the acronym "SMASHED," according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The March 3 event, in which young people are urged to acquire shopping carts and drink beer in one bar after another, is in clear violation of the Beer Institute's Advertising and Marketing Code, which prohibits marketing which encourages rapid or excessive beer drinking or drinking games, according to the group.

"Prepare your liver," the SMASHED organizers say on their web site. "We know there's going to be a lot of drinking and in some places we might even encourage it." As for the shopping carts the participants are urged to acquire, the organizers "don’t want to know how or from where" they come. The event, which is cosponsored by Anheuser-Busch's Bud Light brand, starts at a bar called the Front Page in Washington's Dupont Circle neighborhood on Saturday.

CSPI called on Anheuser-Busch to immediately withdraw its sponsorship of the event, which organizers say “is about testing your own willingness to make an ass of yourself."

"Here's Anheuser-Busch putting Bud Light's seal of approval on this sophomoric and potentially dangerous event, where who knows how many intoxicated people will take to the streets of Washington pushing stolen shopping carts," said George A. Hacker, director of alcohol policies at CSPI. "This makes a mockery of Anheuser-Busch’s professions of concern about heavy drinking."

Anheuser-Busch has come under fire before for promoting excessive drinking and drinking games. The company was widely ridiculed for claiming that a drinking game called Bud Pong should be played by drinking water instead of the beer the game is named for.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Hey, I don't care. I had my fun in college and the statute of limitations has long since expired to charge me with any misdemeanors. I just feel sorry for the kids who will never have those memories if people like this have their way.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Hey! Your friends at CSPI are at it again. :)

[Eric Blair 2084]

Big Brother, Nanny State, Grant Junky, Bogus Study, Junk Science, Social Engineering, Sheeple Control, Health Nazi Ping!!!

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We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, tea totallers, insure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals.

[Renegade]

"Cardinal Puff, may I drink to you for the first time
tonight ? "

[Dinsdale]

Makes me wish I was younger so I could participate.

I once hit 115 quarters shots in a row. It's all in the technique.

[CindyDawg]

Not Real mean of genius, huh? :')

[Domicile of Doom]

Well that's great but I fornicated with 179 floozies from 6 different Sororitys, the soccer team, softball (big butted girls), while directly contributing to the expulsion of at least two dozen fellow class mates (due to poor grades, too much partying). All that and more, and I finished with a good gpa in four years - I'm proud of my accomplishment let me tell ya.

[JimRed]

There used to be a summertime bicycle rally here on the Jersey coast, stopping to vist numerous scheduled bars along the way. I think it was a fund raiser of some sort. I haven't heard of it in a lot of years!

[lesser_satan]

Kids will get drunk and push each other around in stolen shopping carts whether or not Anheuser-Busch encourages them. So the Center for Science in the Public Interest should go do something useful, like debunking Al Gore's retarded hysteria.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Iditarod ping!

Lemme know if you want on or off the list.

[Dinsdale]

You had me until you claimed to have hit the softball players.

They all played for the 'pink team' (well known fact).

I lived on a dorm floor my freshman year that had an average GPA of 0.3! I carried a 3.2 that year so there had to be a bunch of 0.0s.

Graduated with two engineering degrees in nine semesters.

They also had a breathalyser at a bar. We used to go for highest blow of the night. Lost it's appeal after we were old enough to drink legally.

[CindyDawg]

That's impressive. Been tested lately?

[L98Fiero]

"Cardinal Puff, may I drink to you for the first time
tonight ? "

Oh jeez. Memories of 2-for-1 pitchers on Wednesday nights.

[true_blue_texican]

You got any phone numbers?

[Renegade]

You can actually remember ??

[jdub]

Until I got almost to the end of your accomplishments, I was thinking "this guy had as good a freshman year as I did...".

[L98Fiero]

Remember what? ;-)

[HIDEK6]

I just feel sorry for the kids who will never have those memories if people like this have their way.

IN MY DAY, we didn't need corporate America to tell us how to get smashed.

[ASOC]

LOL

A REAL hair of the dog race.....

[Fierce Allegiance]

I used to get nickle drafts in the late 80's, but on base, not at college. Slammed for a buck, not a bad deal!

[Fierce Allegiance]

Glad someone saw my humor. :)

[patton]

We all saw it, we are just hoping everyone else forgot.

[Fierce Allegiance]

After an "Iditarod of beer" most would forget.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Bud Light presents, "REAL MEN OF GENIUS"

Today we salute you, Mr. Idiotaraod Shopping Cart Racer!

Sure, others use their shopping carts to carry their milk and groceries for their family...

But you have found an even more ingenious use.

Racing other drunken idiots down the streets of Washington DC while dodging taxis, bike messengers and another fellow drunk, Ted Kennedy in his BMW...

(watch out for Teddy)

[DumpsterDiver]

The DC Idiotarod is brought to you by SMASHED!

The Iditarod is a famous long-distance race in which big burly yapping dogs tow a sled and driver across Alaska. The 2007 DC Idiotarod is kind of the same thing, but no sled and no dogs. And most likely no snow, what with global warming and all that!

Instead of a sled, teams pull a shopping cart (or "carriage" for you Southerners). And instead of dogs, it's people pulling the cart. Oh, and this one is in DC, not Alaska, so it definitely saves you time and travel expenses. All this and we're even raising money for charity!

So how do we mush DC style? It's a day of racing around DC with shopping carts, making an ass of yourself, meeting new people, chatting with some local bartenders, potentially dressing up in a silly costume, and generally having one of the best days of your life!

So how do you participate? Want more details?

[JimWforBush]

That's funny. I was listening to the "Last Call" on The Big Show on WEEI and they mentioned it and I thought of you.

Any odds on favorite?

[Fierce Allegiance]

I haven't reviewed this years field. I am not positive when it even starts. Damn, it's march, I better check soon, eh?

[JimWforBush]

I think I heard it starts this weekend. I'm not positive though.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Ooops.

The list is on my about page if anyone needs it. :)

I'm out, Poker night - have fun!

[Eric Blair 2084]

I haven't reviewed this years field. I am not positive when it even starts. Damn, it's march, I better check soon, eh?
_____________________________________________

I checked the latest odds in Vegas in the Sportsbook at Caesars...

Jack Daniels is going off at 190:1
Bud Weiser is 30:1
Jimmy Beam is 10:1
Dear ol Granddad is 190:1
Drunken Stupor is 15:1
Bar Hopper is 4:1
Fat Bastard is 15:1
Stinky, smelly smoker is 3:2
You're Next is 1:2 as the odds on favorite...

I'm putting my money on You're Next.

[boop]

Near where I used to live was a bar that catered to the local army base. They sold these huge clear plastic "urns" that held massive amounts of beer for 10.00. You just turned this tap at the bottom to refill your drink. The barkeep told me they always sell these out when the soldiers come in.

[Chode]

when i am laid to rest, my liver shall be buried separately and with honors.

[Eric Blair 2084]

So the Center for Science in the Public Interest should go do something useful, like debunking Al Gore's retarded hysteria.

Sorry, there is no money in that for them. They're not interested in the truth, they're only interest in two things...CONTROL and MO MONEY, MO MONEY, MO MONEY!

[Eric Blair 2084]

I once hit 115 quarters shots in a row. It's all in the technique.

That's impossible. You're going to need to produce some witnesses (like the golfers in the papers with a hole in one).

[RichInOC]

Memo to CSPI: We know it's unhealthy and unsafe...but it's fun. Go away.

[CindyDawg]

Now that really is impressive lol. You should finish it and send it to Budweiser.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Just for you Cindy, although any advertising agency executive who is listening should really hire me if they want to improve on their lame Super Bowl ads:


Bud Light presents: "REAL MEN OF GENIUS"

(Real men of genius)

Today we salute you, Mr. Idiotarod Shopping Cart Racer!

(Mr. Idiotarod Shopping cart racer)

Sure, others use their shopping carts to carry their milk, eggs and groceries to the checkout counter...

(debit or credit?)

But you have found an even more ingenious use...

Racing other drunken idiots down the streets of Washington DC while dodging taxis, bike messengers and another fellow drunk, Ted Kennedy in his BMW...

(watch out for Teddy)

Wearing a dog harness, and a g-string and bow tie, you rampage down the sidewalks pulling a shopping cart with an alcohol to blood content of .89

(oooh, I feel a little woozy)

Homeless people, bag ladies, pedestrians, small children and animals are no match for your oncoming assault.

(get the hell out of my way)

So crack open an ice cold Bud Light, oh Dale Earnhardt Jr of the shopping carts, because when our car breaks down, we won't call AAA or AA, we'll call you...

(Mr. Idiotarod Shopping cart racer)

Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis Missouri.

[CindyDawg]

I don't know what to say. That is right up there with Mr. Too proud of Texas.:')

[Eric Blair 2084]

Who's that?

[VxH]

The sheeple who consume this drivel are exactly who the Roman oligarchs had in mind when they invented the term "Bread and Circuses".

[CindyDawg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apMyjOAacyA

[CindyDawg]

That really is a good one. Better get it trade marked:')

[darkangel82]

Hence the term Idiotarod lol.

[Eric Blair 2084]

That's pretty funny. I guess they are making local commercials now because I had never heard that one. Hell, I'm not even from Texas, and I'm proud of Texas. I'm a Dallas Cowboy fan so I get down there 2 times per year. My kind of state. Love it there.

I just know the national commercials...Mr. Supermarket deli meat slicer...Mr. Hot Dog Eating contest contestant...

[CindyDawg]

Come see this one:')

[VxH]

 

Fat, Drunk, and Stupid is no way to go through life, son.

 

 

 

TOGA!

[Eric Blair 2084]

Hey, I take offense to that. Some of my best friends are fat, drunk and stupid. It's not where you start, it's where you finish that counts.

D-Day: War's over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.
Bluto: What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it, he's rolling.
Bluto: And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the going gets tough . . . the tough get going. Who's with me? Let's Go! Come on! AAAAEEEEEGGGHHHH!! [Bluto runs out of the room alone; then returns] What the f%ck happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer...
Otter: Dead! Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons. But that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
Bluto: We're just the guys to do it.
D-Day: Let's do it.
Bluto: LET'S DO IT!

[Salvation]

Sounds like they don't know the history of this race.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Who is "they"?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!