Absolut vodka pulls ad showing California in Mexico

Yahoo/reuters ^ | Tue Apr 8, 9:35 PM ET | Noel Randewich

[fishhound]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The distillers of Sweden's Absolut vodka have withdrawn an advertisement run in Mexico that angered many U.S. citizens by idealizing an early 19th century map showing chunks of the United States as Mexican. ADVERTISEMENT

The billboard ad has the slogan "In an Absolut World" slapped over a pre-1848 map showing California, Arizona and other U.S. states as Mexican territory. Those states were carved out of what had been Mexican lands until that year.

Although it was not shown in the United States, U.S. media outlets picked up on the ad, and after a barrage of complaints, Absolut's maker said on Sunday the ad campaign would cease.

Defending the campaign last week, Absolut maker Vin & Spirit said the ad was created "with a Mexican sensibility" and was not meant for the U.S. market.

"In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," a spokeswoman wrote on Absolut's Web site.

"Instead, it hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal," she wrote.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Hot babes. The only thing Sweden is good for.

[fishhound]

This is the ad.

In this image released by the Mexican advertising firm of Teran/TBWA on Monday April 7, 2008, an advertisement created for Swedish Absolut Vodka which ran in Mexico, shows a map of the border of Mexico and the United States where it stood before the Mexican-American War of 1848. The Absolut vodka company apologized(FLIPPED THE BIRD) for the ad campaign amid angry calls for a boycott by U.S.

[weegee]

Texas was NOT a part of Mexico in 1848. Dumbasses.

[fishhound]

We are talking about the French(owners of the company)...they still think they beat the Germans...lol

[weegee]

Don’t forget their other liquor brands.

Take them down on a variety of fronts.

[Ronin]

And to whit I respond: How would you react to a map with Russia owning most of Sweden?

Some talented FReeper should take that for action. I don't have the software or the skill, but it would be fun. Plug a bottle of Stolichinaya on it and write "In a Soviet World" as the caption. A fade in with a red-starred Main Battle Tank like a T-72 would add a bit of a punch as well.

[Gondring]

Absolut Europe
(apologies on size and language [Finnish])










Absolut France

[weegee]

Translation: “It was created for Mexican nationalist eyes only. You weren’t supposed to see it, gringo sheeple.”

[Gondring]

Absolut is now French-owned. See #48

[fishhound]

Absolut A**hole.

Pernod Chief Executive Patrick Ricard holds a bottle of Sweden's Absolut vodka prior to a news conference in Paris, March 31, 2008. (Philipp

[Gondring]

Who said it was?!

[fishhound]

“Defending the campaign last week, Absolut maker Vin & Spirit said the ad was created “with a Mexican sensibility” and was not meant for the U.S. market.”

Got to wonder what they consider “American sensibility”.?
Vodka on the deck while an illegal cuts the lawn?

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Hot babes. The only thing Sweden is good for.

Ja!!!

[Gondring]

Don’t forget their other liquor brands.

Exactly!

From Wikipedia's entry...

Pernod Ricard owns a wide variety of beverage brands worldwide. These include:

• Royal Salute (scotch whisky)
• Chivas Regal (scotch whisky)
• The Glenlivet (single malt scotch whisky)
• Jameson Irish Whiskey
• Seagram's gin
• Pernod aux extraits d'absinthe
• Wyborowa (vodka)
• Ricard and 51 (pastis)
• Martell (cognac)
• Wild Turkey (bourbon)
• Jacob's Creek (wine)
• Pernod (anise-based spirit)
• Zuco
• Becherovka
• DITA (lychee-based spirit)
• Havana Club (rum).

As of 26 July 2005, the brand portfolio expanded to include former Allied Domecq products:

• Ballantine’s scotch;
• Kahlúa coffee liqueur;
• Malibu coconut-flavored rum;
• Beefeater gin;
• Tia Maria liqueur;
• Stolichnaya vodka (distribution in the USA);
• Mumm champagne;
• Perrier-Jouët champagne.

Fortune Brands’ agreement with Pernod Ricard also includes the purchase of the Maker’s Mark bourbon brand, which remains subject to regulatory clearance in the United States. While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission conducts its review, Maker’s Mark will be owned and managed by Pernod Ricard and Pernod Ricard will receive the earnings from the brand. Fortune Brands will be compensated with interest payments pending transfer of the brand.

NOT INCLUDED

Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Fortune Brands acquired a number of former Allied Domecq brands from Pernod Ricard following Pernod Ricard’s acquisition of Allied Domecq. These include:

• Sauza tequila;
• Courvoisier cognac;
• Canadian Club whisky;
• Clos du Bois;
• Other Sonoma and Napa wine brands;
• Laphroaig malt whisky;
• Teacher’s Scotch whisky;
• Cockburn's port;
• Harveys sherries;
• Larios gin;
• DYC whisky;
• Fundador Spanish brandy;
• Centenario Spanish brandy;
• Kuemmerling German bitters.

[JLS]

Your analysis is right but the company that makes the vodka is not the EU. What they want to do is make money. They want to sell their product in the US and in Mexico. They are not doing any bidding for the EU or any other government. They just screwed up for some inexplicable reason.

[djf]

Oooohhhhh....

Damn shame.

Glenlivet is a fine Scotch.
But Dalwhinnie is much better!

I think we should not only boycott Absolut, we should boycott ANY JOINT THAT EVEN SELLS THE STUFF!!!

That’ll larn ‘em.

[fishhound]

# Chivas Regal (scotch whisky)
# The Glenlivet (single malt scotch whisky)
# Jameson Irish Whiskey
# Seagram’s gin

Wild Turkey (bourbon)
# Ballantine’s scotch;
# Kahlúa coffee liqueur;
# Malibu coconut-flavored rum;
# Beefeater gin;
# Tia Maria liqueur;
# Stolichnaya vodka (distribution in the USA);

Thanks fo rposting this info.
It’s pretty shocking.
These are huge brands.

[fishhound]

Stoly is Froggy?

[fishhound]

Dude...whats with the second chick from the left?
She looks like spock.

What is that from anyways?

[CaspersGh0sts]

Quite a few countries don’t use the Euro. Romania, Denmark, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Lithuania come to mind.