Bacardi’s Designated Driver

Bacardi’s Designated Driver

The liquor brand hires a Formula One champ to denounce driving drunk.

By Bernhard Warner and Matthew Yeomans
Posted Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - 12:12pm

Earlier this decade, Formula One driver Michael Schumacher was branded the world's first "billionaire athlete." (If Tiger Woods hasn't yet caught him earningswise, he soon will.) Now retired, Schumacher still plays the role of celebrity pitchman for various advertisers, including for liquor brand Bacardi on its campaign to remind consumers not to drink and drive. It's an expensive investment for Bacardi. Is the message catching on?

Title: As seen on Top Gear - Schumacher Drink Drive Simulation

Stats: Not very impressive—just 4,330 viewings since it was posted to Bacardi's YouTube channel on June 21, generating just one text comment.

What you see: This is not our typical public service announcement lecturing us not to drink and drive. It shows the seven-time Formula One champion taking a black sports car through its paces, speeding around a race track. We're informed that Schumacher never drinks and drives, but if he did here's what kind of impairments he'd encounter. For starters, we're informed that after one drink, a driver is more easily distracted and his eyesight is impaired. To simulate these effects, Schumacher is required to speed around the track with a trio of suited men singing alongside him and with mud splattered on his windshield. Of course, Schumacher makes it around the course intact. Schumacher then tells us he doesn't drink and drive. "Why would you?" he wonders.

  • Bernhard Warner is editorial director of Social Media Influence.
  • Matthew Yeomans runs Custom Communication
Bacardi’s Designated Driver

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