Beer And Cookies For Santa?
Categories: Holidays, Safety, In The News, Alcohol & Drugs
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Should Santa knock back non-alcoholic brews while on the job? Credit: sodabug, Flickr
The Labatt ads are meant to imply that Santa shouldn't be downing any alcohol, lest he crash his sleigh into a passing jetliner. Some of the ads even direct customers to Labatt's makeaplan.ca, which advocates choosing a designated driver. But the very connection between drinking and driving -- even though we're talking about a fictional man driving a fictional sleigh after drinking a beer containing less than 0.5% alcohol -- has been enough to cause a bit of negative buzz among Canadian shoppers.
"I don't think that's quite appropriate," said Kathleen Clifford, 65, in an interview with the Toronto Sun. "Children see that and they think we'd better leave beer for Santa instead of cookies and milk. ... I have grandchildren and great-granchildren and I don't approve of it."
Tell us your opinion: Is there any negative impact on kids from ads that suggest buying hardworking Kris Kringle a (non-alcoholic) beer?
Related: The Best Beers of Christmas, Bad Holiday Outfits
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Pinkie 12-15-2009 @ 8:01AM
We have always traditionally left Santa a stout and cookies. It's the way we've done it in my family since I was little. I don't find anything wrong with it.
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KQ 12-15-2009 @ 8:20AM
What is the big deal leaving beer for Santa? We always left beer and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Get a life people!
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Me 12-15-2009 @ 9:06AM
When I was growing up we always left bagels and beer for Santa...
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jenn 12-15-2009 @ 8:21AM
Hey santa can have egg nog right??? i thnk santa can enjoy a nice cold beer every once in a while...hes an adult right???
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jamie 12-15-2009 @ 8:44AM
I can not believe that people are giving this that much thought. how long has "santa" been around, do you really care if the fake fat man has a beer.quite sure alot of lil kiddies seen mommy n daddy drink worst gimmie a break
Rayne 12-15-2009 @ 8:53AM
Actually, leaving Viagra out for the Easter Bunny makes more sense than you think. He's a symbol of fertility XD
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Martesa 12-15-2009 @ 9:47AM
When I was little, I was told that Santa liked a bottle of Iron City beer (we're from Pittsburgh) with his cookies. I don't have any problem with it, especially since it's non-alcoholic...
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Daniel Cairns 12-16-2009 @ 6:40AM
I consider this to be free advertising for the beer Co. Gotta believe that "extra" cross talk about the Ad will surely benefit the sales. Don't you think with all the millions of $$$ they spend on marketing that unwise decisions are avoided. This is more thought out than you could imagine. I am going to buy some Labatts today.
Daniel Cairns
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Daniel Cairns 12-15-2009 @ 9:50AM
I consider this to be free advertising for the beer Co. Gotta believe
that "extra" cross talk about the Ad will surely benefit the sales.
Don't you think with all the millions of $$$ they spend on marketing
that unwise decisions are avoided. This is more thought out than you
could imagine. I am going to buy some Labatts today.
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CINDY 12-15-2009 @ 9:59AM
I think some people need to get a grip and realize that times are changing!! We are no longer living in the times of "Leave it to Beaver"!! Children of the present and the future, are gonna have to deal with A WHOLE LOT MORE than Santa sipping on a beer!! Don't you think it makes more sense to worry about when the next 5th grader is gonna pull a gun out of his bookbag, and open fire on his classmates?? THAT'S THE KIND OF PROBLEMS WE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH!!! Santa drinking a beer?? Give me a break!!!!!
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Ron 12-15-2009 @ 10:07AM
Proverbs 31:4-7
(King James Version)
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
NUFF SAID, GET OVER IT!!!
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trumpetcc 12-15-2009 @ 10:12AM
People need to chill out, it's not that serious. "Children see that and they think we'd better leave beer for Santa instead of cookies and milk..." You're lying to your children about a fictional character whilst the company is making a joke about a legal, non alcoholic product. There are wars and genocide going on in the world, find something else to complain about.
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Tammy 12-15-2009 @ 10:28AM
People need to get a grip. Look at all the ads on tv and heck on city buses. Having kids leave out fake beer for Santa (also fake) is no big deal. I think some people just like to complain and hear themselves talk.
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Michelle Fortune 12-15-2009 @ 11:43AM
Oh, for crying out loud. BEER is not an evil device set aside for ADULTS to create evil.
I see nothing wrong with an ad that promotes safe driving and sobriety.
People should drink alcohol BUT NOT IN QUANTITY. A glass of wine or two or a Beer or two THATS ALL Once a week probably is alot.
I drink maybe once a year or two years because I don't like the effects on my kidneys. I can actually feel the alcohol causing my kidneys to work harder to remove the toxin.
Cheese can be a toxin.
People who cannot moderate alcohol are the ones at fault and everyone should not suffer for those ADDICTIVE Personalities.
Causing a stir over every single thing is tiring.
Santa Claus is a Man and Men drink Beer!
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Liiv 12-15-2009 @ 12:34PM
Everyone is too worried about being "politically correct"
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a man 12-15-2009 @ 12:38PM
I have to agree. There is nothing morally wrong with this ad, but it is in bad taste. When I was a kid, we were taught to leave either milk and cookies out for Santa, or hot chocolate and cookies (the cookies were always ones that my mother made). We always left out dog biscuits on a separate plate just in case Santa wanted to give the reindeer a snack (I had a dog). That sounds a lot better to a kid than leaving out a six-pack.
You screwed the pooch on this one, Labatt's.
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a man 12-15-2009 @ 12:42PM
Trumpet----if it's not all that serious, then why are you complaining about people with morals and ethics complaining? That seems like double talk to me!!!
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Russ 12-15-2009 @ 5:34PM
I think I'm gonna leave Santa a big old joint and cookies. LOTS and LOTS of cookies. Screw the beer.
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PJ 12-15-2009 @ 2:47PM
Now you had to go and give them the idea, didn't you??? :)
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S C 12-15-2009 @ 1:08PM
Why is the Santa White? Over 90% of the NFL Saints are black, over 80% of the Saints fans are black. So give us our due and make the Santa Black. Why not?
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