We all know that sex sells but what
happens when people cross a line? Are more stringent marketing
restrictions needed in the spirits industry?
There’s no doubt that in recent history, spirits have pushed the
boundaries when it comes to using sex in marketing. Bulgarian brand Flirt Vodka has produced raunchy
posters to attract attention, while sex has also driven publicity for Lust
Vodka, Skyy Vodka, Evan Williams Bourbon, Bacardi rum and Cabana cachaça.
Advertising authorities and broader public opinion have waged against such
marketing tactics in the off-trade, but what of the on-trade? They may have
happy hours and 2 for 1 cocktail deals, but with competition cropping up on
every street, bars, pubs and restaurants are seeking to differentiate
themselves with outlandish, and sometimes shocking, marketing messages.
But it’s not just
promotions that can cause controversy. In 2016, a New Zealand bar was forced to
withdraw two offensively named cocktails from its menu after being slammed by a
former restaurant critic. Wellington-based
bar Orpheus let customers use an iPad-based ordering app, which allowed them
to access 5,000 recipes from the internet, including cocktails with names such
as Pillow Biter and Asian Fetish. UK bar
chain London Cocktail Club, known for its party-hard reputation, is not one to
shy away from lewd names. On the drinks menu, the venue has cocktails named
Bump ‘N’ Grind, Kiss Me Quick, and a shot called Blowjob. “I think it’s about
getting the balance right,” says James Coston, head of marketing at London Cocktail
Club. “It’s meant to be a little tongue
in cheek, no one is expecting that with a Blowjob shot, you would get a
blowjob. We’re trying to have a little bit of fun with the customers. People
know these drinks, and know them well, so I don’t think people are too shocked
by what cocktails are called.”
Rules and regulations that could monitor sex-inspired
marketing in the on-trade? There are no dedicated laws that govern how
cocktails are advertised to the public in bars, yet there are rules that focus
on how products are sold in the off-trade.
The Portman Group’s code applies to the naming, packaging and
promotional activity of bottled alcoholic drinks. However, the group doesn’t
regulate cocktails in bars, pubs and clubs that have been created solely by an
on-trade venue. The Portman Group’s
3.2 rule prevents brands or marketing from using sexualized images, or alluding
to sexual activity, stating: “A drink, its packaging and any promotional
material or activity should not in any direct or indirect way suggest any
association with sexual activity or sexual success.”
“This would be a
licensing matter, and individual premises or operators will have their own
voluntary policies and house rules on this matter. In our experience, products
that use explicit sexual imagery and/or language to differentiate themselves in
the market actually end up alienating many of their consumers.” “There
is a code that’s understood, and people know when things are entirely
appropriate, but there is room for it to be written down for people in the on-trade
who are less careful, so they can understand that there is an etiquette to
follow.”
