NEW YORK – Budweiser is using the bright lights of advertising’s biggest stage—Super Bowl 50—to take on drunk driving in an unexpected, unorthodox and powerful way. To spark conversations about this vital issue on one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year, the brand has called upon actress Helen Mirren, with her mix of gravitas and charm, to demand that beer drinkers make a plan to get home safely. “Simply Put,” Budweiser’s new 60-second spot by Anomaly, stands apart from the typical drunk driving PSA by forcefully calling out drivers to #GiveADamn and protect their lives and the lives of others, in a tone that only Mirren can deliver.
Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch have a strong and proud history of promoting responsible drinking over the past 30 years, and the “Simply Put” movement goes far beyond just advertising. To encourage fans to find safe rides home on game night, Budweiser created StandWithBud.com, which provides people with the most convenient transportation options based on their locations, from taxis to car services (including discount codes where permissible). StandWithBud.com also invites people to take a pledge to #GiveADamn and not drive drunk on Super Bowl Sunday, then share their commitment on social media using Mirren’s brazen tone.
For each use of campaign hashtag #GiveADamn through 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday night, Budweiser will spend an additional $1 on safe ride home programs (up to $1 million) in 2016. The hashtag also triggers an eye-catching Twitter emoji that will facilitate additional shares of the campaign message.
“We can all agree that driving drunk is a very bad idea, yet people still do it. If we’re able to make one person think twice and not get behind the wheel, then this campaign has done its job,” said Brian Perkins, vice president, Budweiser. “We care about our consumers, and we wanted to address the issue differently than anyone ever has before, in an effort to start as many conversations as possible and get people to make a plan.”
During the game, Budweiser will debut an additional 30-second spot by Anomaly titled “Not Backing Down,” which will unapologetically celebrate all the things that make Budweiser America’s No. 1 full-flavored lager. The spot will show the Budweiser Clydesdales in a new light, highlighting their strength, power and size as symbols of the hard work and care that goes into brewing Budweiser. “Not Backing Down” is the 27th Super Bowl ad to feature the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Over the past 30 years, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners have invested more than $1 billion in the U.S. to promote alcohol responsibility. This includes connecting with millions of fans each year through partnerships with major league sports, music festivals and other marquee events. Through Anheuser-Busch’s Safe-Ride Home programs, the company has provided more than 2.8 million rides from bars and restaurants since 1989. Also, in partnership with AAA, Budweiser’s “Tow to Go” program has removed more than 24,000 impaired drivers from the road over the past two decades.
Through its new Global Smart Drinking Goals, Anheuser-Busch has committed to investing a billion dollars in marketing campaigns globally to influence social norms and change behaviors to measurably decrease harmful alcohol use over the next 10 years. In addition, Anheuser-Busch’s new global initiative Tackle Impossible will create breakthrough solutions to reduce drunk driving accidents and champion designated driving.
About Budweiser:
Budweiser, an American-style lager, was introduced in 1876 when company founder Adolphus Busch set out to create the United States’ first truly national beer brand – brewed to be universally popular and transcend regional tastes. Each batch of Budweiser stays true to the same recipe and ingredients used by five generations of Busch family brewmasters. Budweiser is a medium-bodied, flavorful, crisp and pure beer with blended layers of premium American and European hop aromas, brewed for the perfect balance of flavor and refreshment. Budweiser is made using time-honored methods including “kraeusening” for natural carbonation and Beechwood aging, which results in unparalleled balance and character.