Ad Exec Parodies Sugary Drinks

October 13, 2012 — According to a story in USA Today, Alex Bogusky, former co-chairman of power ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, left advertising two years ago and has recently partnered with advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest to parody the sort of brand he once championed. A Bogusky-created video posted at TheRealBears.org skewers Coke for pushing sugary soft drinks on an unsuspecting American public.

According to the site, "With one-third of Americans overweight and another third obese, it’s a wonder anyone is still swallowing what the soda companies are selling." The video, featuring polar bears, goes on to point out that sugary drinks account for the largest portion of our daily calories (which they do even though according to another USA Today story, the percent of soft drink drinkers who drink diet soda is increasing), and that they increase the risk of diabetes, amputation, and erectile dysfunction. The video ends with the bears dumping their sugary drinks into the sea. According to Bogusky, "The hope is that people will begin to think about drinking sugary beverages and how it changes their health."

Bogusky’s video is one of a number of efforts that have resulted in negative publicity for the soft drink industry as of late, including New York City’s recently-passed restriction on large size vended sugary drinks. The industry is not taking the change in attitude lying down. On October 13, a group comprised of soft-drink manufacturers and NYC restaurants and businesses filed a lawsuit to stop New York City’s restrictions from taking effect.

You can read USA Today’s story on the parody spot here and read their exclusive interview with Bogusky here.