Anheuser-Busch pulled a popular water drinking game promotion last week after learning under-age drinkers were using beer during the interactive game instead of water as the game directed, according to news reports.
The beer-maker had been promoting the game, Bud Pong, and competitions since July, offering tables, balls and glasses to U.S. wholesalers. In the game, one teams tries to sink a ball into an opposing team’s cups. If successful, the opposing team must drink. Promotional guidelines specify that water be used in the cups, not beer, according to Anheuser-Busch.
Anheuser-Busch released a statement saying, “It has come to our attention that despite our explicit guidelines, there may have been instances where this promotion was not carried out in the manner intended.”
The company has invested more than $500 million to promote responsible drinking among adults and to discourage abuse, news reports said.
