Submitted Case: Irresponsible Fusion of Alcohol Promotion and Mental Health Advice

In a glaring display of corporate irresponsibility, United National Breweries (UNB) has come under fire for intertwining mental health advice with the promotion of their alcoholic beverage, Chibuku Super. A recent social media video, prominently branded with Chibuku Super’s logo, features discussions on depression and mental health issues. This tactic not only trivializes serious health concerns but also dangerously associates alcohol consumption with mental health solutions.

Compounding the issue, UNB is owned by Delta Corporation, a Zimbabwean beverage conglomerate in which Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) holds a significant stake. This connection implicates one of the world’s largest alcohol producers in the unethical marketing strategy.

Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for mental health disorders, including depression. By branding mental health content with their beer logo, UNB and AB InBev blurs the lines between genuine health advice and product promotion, potentially misleading consumers about the role of alcohol in managing mental health.

Promotion, or any marketing strategies, is Big Alcohol’s activity to drive alcohol availability and acceptability, to perpetuate the alcohol norm, and to place alcohol at the center of people’s thoughts and preferences, communities’ practices, and societies’ customs. The focus of this DUBIOUS FIVE strategy is the people and their beliefs about alcohol products, the public and their attitudes about and behavior around alcohol products, and the consumers and how much, how often they buy and consume alcohol brands.

Source:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/prof-herbert-zirima-69701b108_what-is-depression-gamuchirai-chinamasadaniel-activity-7303293749877469184-Tgoj?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=android_app&rcm=ACoAAAMwoxsBJrqwa1VeeHLKiWwkGsPLe0NaMBA&utm_campaign=share_via

What brand are you exposing? Chibuku

What company are you exposing? Delta

Please briefly describe the alcohol industry misconduct you are reporting. What happened and what is the problem?
Aligning their brand with mental health messages

This case was brought to Big Alcohol Exposed by a concerned member of the public, underscoring the importance of community awareness in identifying industry misconduct. If you witness irresponsible or misleading marketing practices by the alcohol industry, you too can report them to Big Alcohol Exposed to help call attention to unethical tactics and protect public health.

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