Before this became the Exeter E&E letter review page, apparently I reviewed adverts, hence the lame name of this blog. Problem is, as discussed on my recent trip to West Sussex to visit a friend, adverts have been really poor recently. Not in a so bad they’re good kinda way, but in a totally forgettable kind of way. However, and worryingly, they still work.
How do I know this? Because I have fallen foul of one innocuous looking drinks company’s campaign.
This company, we’ll call them Strongbow, have been running shorts where something annoying is on a wooden surface and has two of their trademark arrows shot into it. Their choice of objects is too predictable – a mobile phone and a Heat-like celebrity magazine. Could they be more 2001? If I was in charge, I would have had the arrows fire into the head of the bloke off the confused.com advert, or maybe Nicky Campbell. Thud Thud, take that annoying shouty bloke. Hoo-wee.
However, this advert has directly influenced my drinking habit. It didn’t cause me to drink rank cider. I began doing that again last year with the delectable Old Rosie tipple (or rant-juice as I like to call it) being a particularly potent favourite. No, the ad got to me with the final shot of a pint of cider with what looks like ice cubes in it.
“How ridiculous,” I declared to Mrs P when I first noticed this. “Who on earth drinks cider with ice in it?” my ranting beginning to freestyle, “I’ll tell you who: the la-di-das and don’t-you-know types of West Sussex, that’s who.” (Surprisingly I didn’t see anyone drinking cider n ice on my recent trip, but I knew they were there.)
Thus I thought I had dismissed it. Oh, but how wrong I was. This evening I sat down to enjoy a bottle of local cider. “Serve chilled” its label suggested. But my bottle had been warming on the shelf since Christmas. How could I get it to the required temperature quick? Surely I couldn’t, could I?
Yes I could, damn it. And I’m not proud either. But I will say I did enjoy it. So thankyou Mr Strongbow, you can add me to your list of advertising sheep. Albeit one that doesn’t buy your product.
2 comments:
the temperature of alcoholic drinks, in particular, beer, is something that has concerned me since moving over to the USA. all beer here is served cold, even the heavier, darker ales, which should, as everyone knows, be served near to room temperature in order to fully appreciate the smell and taste and stuff. you have an IPA, a pilsner or a lager? by all means, chill away. however, they seem to think i am nuts for suggesting that beer should be warm. however, this philistinity (?) is abrogated by the tendancy to serve gin and juice in pint glasses.
btw - had a drink last night
bbtw - just as long as you dont go putting ice cubes in wine...
oh - and i agree. nicky campbell should be riddled with arrows.
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