48 responses to “Kid’s Beer by Beth”

1. 

   Chris Miller September 23rd, 2009 at 07:50

   I’m not sure if this would decrease underage drinking (kids drink this stuff rather than real beer) or increase it (kids find that they can easily swap real beer for this fake stuff)…

2. 

   Erica Lied September 23rd, 2009 at 08:23

   I don’t think it would increase underage drinking. It is to some extent like sparkling wine. Kids are going to drink no matter what. A new ‘kids beer’ isn’t going to affect that.

3. 

   Marisa Nakajima September 23rd, 2009 at 09:48

   Kids feel like they want to fit in and if this is how they can they will try to get it. I think it will lessen underage drinking, b/c they can still “look cool” without the negative side effects of beer. Also the U.S. has the highest rate of people that OD, compared to Japan or Europe. If parents in the U.S. lightened up, we might not have this problem. Adolecents in the U.S. look at an opportunity to drink as a one night change to get drunk, where as in Europe or Japan Adolecents look at drinking as a time to hang out and let loose a little. It’s not as much a big deal to have a little here and a little there than all at once.

4. 

   Will Chandler September 23rd, 2009 at 10:01

   Unless this tastes like beer, all it is is a drink that foams and may have the color of beer.If it does taste like beer, it could be a negative in that kids will instead be getting used to the taste of beer and when they do start drinking the real thing, it may be in excess like any other drink.

5. 

   Shawn Tomlinson September 23rd, 2009 at 10:10

   The argument behind not allowing kiddie cocktails and candy cigarettes is much like not allowing children to play violent video games. It desensitizes the children to these vices and may increase the likelihood of participating in these acts. This is still up for debate but if i had a child i wouldn’t be buying kiddie beer anytime soon.

6. 

   Emily Wetterich September 23rd, 2009 at 10:43

   Oh wow, I don’t really know what to think about this. It could probably go either way when it comes to underage drinking. I’m fine with not having it in America. I love the comercial though, it’s pretty funny

7. 

   Christina Jacobs September 23rd, 2009 at 11:12

   Fake beer… interesting. I think it will attract people because of how unique it is, but I think it is kind of wrong. It just doesn’t seem right.

8. 

   Quentin Campbell September 23rd, 2009 at 11:35

   This pretty much is an intro to beer for kids. This might help but most likely hurt our youth in the long run.

9. 

   Josh Johnson September 23rd, 2009 at 12:48

   To answer the question at the end of the blog – I am not sure that there are studies that prove that letting kids have kiddie cocktails and candy cigarettes will increase their chance of abusing alcohol and tobacco later in life, but I do not think this is a good idea. This beer for kids will only make kids want to try the real thing, and we do not know if it will make them become alchoholics, but it is almost certain that it will premote underage drinking. I am not a fan.

10. 

    Greg Forney September 23rd, 2009 at 13:34

    Underage drinking is already a huge problem, I really don’t think disallowing children non-alcoholic cocktails is going to solve this issue, it simply goes so much deeper than that.

11. 

    Brent McClean September 23rd, 2009 at 14:30

    There’s not detailed proof, but parents always push towards this side. For a business standpoint, great idea with product placement. In a parents mind that drinks, this might be over the edge.

12. 

    Chris Borer September 23rd, 2009 at 14:49

    Giving kids anything that is a fake version of a product they are not supposed to be using is a terrible idea. Its like putting training wheels on a beer and weening children up to a full beer. I think it will make them just more curious to have the real thing.

13. 

    Ross Peare September 23rd, 2009 at 15:06

    The reason so many American Teenagers abuse beer and hard alcohol is because our society doesn’t accept drinking at a young age. I think if kids were allowed to have a “special” drink even if it has zero alcohol in it, they would be less likely to be a heavy drinker later in life. Kids experiment with alcohol during the teen years because their parents had always said not to drink. In other countries children are allowed to drink at younger ages. Maybe we would have less alcoholics if we grew up with it our whole lives instead of going “crazy” during the teen years. I disagree with the whole “baby beer” with Anheuser-Busch and the government. This could help people who are alcoholics because they can still drink, but not get as much of a buzz.

14. 

    Zacheriah Ruggles September 23rd, 2009 at 15:31

    I think that if the kids get used to drinkin that beverage that tastes good then they actually try beer they are going to hate it because beer is sick at first (not that i would know). Although this product may seem to promote underaged drinking, it may actually discourage it. Like the violent video games and fake cigs thing, I have played violent video games and had the fake cigs but that doesn’t encourage me to be violent or to smoke in any way. I also think that if you give it time this product or a similar product will make it to the USA.

15. 

    Caroline Stephenson September 23rd, 2009 at 16:09

    HAHAHAHAHA!!! That is hilarious! Only the japanese would come up with something so out there like child’s beer. But on a more serious note, I think it’s such a silly idea for the US. I remember tasting beer as a kid and hating the taste, so I can’t see how this product would be a good idea. Maybe it has to do with culture, but I would think the taste would turn kids away.

16. 

    Jennifer Cook September 23rd, 2009 at 16:32

    They have non alcoholic beer for dogs too.

    People in the US freak out too much about stuff like that. Yeah, it might promote drinking at a younger age but I feel like the media does enough of that on their own. Besides there are tons of other countries around the world with either a younger drinking age or none at all and from talking to people from those countries they don’t seem to have nearly as much trouble with underage drinking as we do. I feel like for most underage drinkers the appeal is in the rebellion. But either way I don’t think it would sell well in the US.

17. 

    Kevin Mockus September 23rd, 2009 at 16:58

    wow this is a really weird product. i can understand it for young kids to drink to act like their parents. By the time those kids get older, they’re gonna wanna drink the real think. This could have positive and negative setbacks. Its a good product with a good reason to have it. Hope to see it in the US

18. 

    Allison Weilbaker September 23rd, 2009 at 17:01

    When I was a kid my parents always gave me cream soda or grape juice during special occasions I don’t really see a difference between a cream soda on tap and kid’s beer. In my opinion kid’s beer is like playing house. I agree that if the kids version tastes like real beer then it will increase drinking bc they are already used to it and won’t know when to stop when it comes to including alcohol.

    On a side note, I think the advertising looks like it came from the 80’s. I don’t know if it’s low quality on youtube or if the u.s. just has better advertising technology or both.

19. 

    Aaron Curtis September 23rd, 2009 at 17:03

    I think this is a very good marketing idea because so many kids drink underaged, but now there is a drink that looks like beer but is not beer. This could prevent underaged drinking, because most of its cases are because it looks cool, but with an imitation beer, no one would know the difference.

20. 

    Theresa Reinhart September 23rd, 2009 at 18:19

    wow… this is awesome.. I wish we had this when I was a kid. I really don’t think it will have any affect on abuse later on in life or not. It is hard to say. Since it does not contain alcohol and does not taste like alcohol some kids who might be feeling pressured into drinking at high school parties could bring this concoction without feeling out of place. It’s a thought. And, they might get used to the taste of pop and when they try beer, dislike the difference.

    I still think it is a cool idea.

21. 

    Amber Illig September 23rd, 2009 at 18:23

    I remember one family reunion spent on Fort Myers beach, with all of my 30-some cousins. I’m not sure how old I was, but definitely the age group that this type of product would speak to. I would walk down the beach to the pier with 3-5 of my cousins who were close in age every day to walk around to different shops. We found a novelty store which sold all sorts of gag toys, candies and gifts. We thought it would be really cool to buy candy cigarettes and also the fake cigarettes that you can blow into and create smoke on the tip. We used them on the walk back and received many worried comments from adults, asking us if we were of age. This only egged us on, because we thought we looked so cool and sophisticated smoking fake cigarettes. However, when we got back to our condos, my parents along with all of our aunts and uncles were very apprehensive about it. All of the parents were giving awkward glares to different members of our group, as if they were trying to figure out which one of us influenced THEIR child to do such a thing. But no one really got in trouble.

    Although our parents didn’t tell us we couldn’t buy these fake cigarettes, they sure weren’t happy that we did. I also remember what was going through my mind when this happened. And that was that (a) cigarettes make you look cool and sophisticated, and (b) it would be really funny to see the reactions on adults’ faces when they think they see a child smoking. This is why I think this market is really iffy. This “fake beer” could maybe show up in various specialty stores. I think kids would think it is cool for the wrong reasons, which would bring a bit of business, but I think there is only a small percentage of parents in the U.S. that would actually go out of their ways to purchase it for their children.

22. 

    Zack Saunders September 23rd, 2009 at 19:09

    Parents definitely need to lighten up. The amount of attention the united states pays to underage drinking is ridiculous, and all it does is make it more appealing for underaged kids. If the US spent the time and focus they do on underaged drinkers on violence among underaged kids we would have such a nice country.

23. 

    Stephen Williams II September 23rd, 2009 at 19:34

    Well, this is…interesting. I never heard of such a beverage, but I suppose it may quench the urge of children to try to become adults at an early age and drink what adults drink. In a way, this would help with that and give kids their own “drink”. But I do have to say that this may result in more alcoholics in the future if they are still interested in the type of beverage and want a little extra kick. This is pretty risky stuff in my opinion.

24. 

    Beth Carroll September 23rd, 2009 at 19:38

    As a mom, I understand why this product might cause controversy. I do let my kids have a little Champaign on New Years Eve, a taste of eggnog on Christmas Day, and a fancy glass with a non-alcoholic beverage with dinner on special occasions. Celebration in moderation is a good thing to teach. But, is swilling a big, foaming mug of fake beer teaching moderation? Since the target market for this product would be parents, I’m not sure kid’s beer would sell very well here in the U.S. Though, if the kids wanted it, the parents might just buy it. My brother-in-law waited in line last night to my 10 year old nephew Halo 3 ODST!

25. 

    Xi Wu September 23rd, 2009 at 19:49

    Amber’s story is a fun staff. Sometimes, children are just curious about everything, and the more they are restricted from something, the more they want to have a try. If entrepreneurs use this point to get money, regardless of the common sense of the society, such as children shouldn’t touch the ‘beer’, they may take too much risk. Although the idea of ‘kid’s beer’ sounds creative and profitable, the social effect of the idea is an important factor, which any entrepreneur shouldn’t fail to realize.

26. 

    Alex Selby September 23rd, 2009 at 20:04

    If it is promoting beer, it’s a pretty light one from what I saw from the commercial, and who wants to promote light beer?!(I jest). I do remember when I was younger I would shave with my dad with the little cover that came on bic razors still on. Kids do look up to, and mimic adults, so it’s only natural that this be a marketing idea. While clever it clearly does not market itself to the insane American mother leading newer generations with a leash in one hand and a protest sign in the other. Personally I don’t think it will effect childrens choice to much, it’s the same argument that video games cause violence: goes either way.

27. 

    Lyndsey S. September 23rd, 2009 at 20:35

    There is a similar product in Venezuela: Polar makes the alcoholic version and they make a non-alcoholic version called Malta. They advertise it just like a beer (like the one shown here) it just does not have the alcoholic contents that Polar does.

    I actually think that if kids have this while at a young age, maybe they will be less inclined to abuse alcohol in the future. So yeah, maybe the “parents in the states” should lighten up.

    Way to go on calling out Anheuser-Busch on the feasibility analysis! haha!

28. 

    Chris Perry September 23rd, 2009 at 20:53

    Seems so wrong to me. Lets train kids that its cool to drink beer bet that will make for a great study on alcoholics later on.

29. 

    Olivia Freeman September 23rd, 2009 at 20:54

    This amuses me! I feel like it would be cute for the kids to hold fake beers but all and all it is kind of a weird concept. On the optimistic side of things it gives them something to drink just like mommy and daddy and makes them feel like a “grown” up during celebrations but it also could be seen as a way to promote alcoholic drinking later in life. (which could be bad or good)
    –Just imagine little ones playing beer pong and kiddie drinking games with like tick tack toe
    –whats next, maybe we can invite the toddlers to the frats? put a little fake beer in their bottle, and get the whole family involved

30. 

    Nathan Ferguson September 23rd, 2009 at 20:59

    This is crazy. I wish the had this when I was a kid

31. 

    Jenna York September 23rd, 2009 at 21:08

    This is just ridiculous! Since when did children even desire beer? Personally, I think the stuff tastes like dirt, but really? beer for children? Who cares if they want to mimic mommy and daddy; they may want to drive like mommy or daddy but we don’t let them. C’mon Japan, beer, even fake, is not suitable for children!

32. 

    Katelyne Moody September 23rd, 2009 at 21:13

    Here’s the thing:

    American kids are undoubtly more reckless when it comes to underage drinking. I think we lead the world in most underage drinking and driving related deaths. Underage drinking is a very serious problem in America, and it can be due to many factors. The fact that alcohol is a social thing to do, as well as very easily accessible in America is probably why underage drinking has a bigger impact on our country. However, until alchol commericals become only available to those of age, parents refrain from drinking in front of underage drinking, fake I.D.s stop being maufactured, and bars actually uphold the “we I.D. everybody” policy; underage drinking will continue to be a problem in America.

    So why not introduce a fun drink? Who knows; maybe it will become a hit and actually stimulate our economy? :]

    –katelyne–

33. 

    Mayura Davda September 23rd, 2009 at 21:32

    I strongly disapprove of this kind of a concept in the first place! Already there are many problems due to underage drinking and alcohol abuse in our society. Why add to it by introducing something like this to younger group of people when they could start thinking that drinking “that”/”similar” looking stuff is okay and normal?
    I definitely foresee a bad impact on the future generations of our world due to such bad influences.

34. 

    Cara Cymbala September 23rd, 2009 at 21:34

    Underage drinking, and drinking in general, is such a huge problem as it is. I don’t know why we would want to advertise it to kids anymore than it already is. I support any effort to help the rising problems in our world, like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. But in my opinion, making kids think drinking beer is cool, even if its a substitute, is getting the same message across. Not a good idea.

35. 

    Micajah Green September 23rd, 2009 at 21:44

    I think this is a cool product. I agree with what many have said: underage drinking is a HUGE problem in the U.S. BUT countries who have a lower drinking age than the U.S. do not seem to have the problems we have. I think a lot of it is due to teenagers simply wanting to be rebellious against parents, teachers, and society in general. Because this product is new, it is hard to say what its impact will be. I do not think it would really have an impact on more mature societies, but as we have seen, Americans (as a whole) tend to be irresponsible when it comes to underage drinking.

36. 

    Yi Li September 23rd, 2009 at 21:52

    In my opinion, this kind of products will confuse children on whether they should really drink alcohol. It might give them the impression that the real alcohol is just like the Kid’s Beer so it is not a big deal to drink alcohol.

37. 

    Ankit Buti September 23rd, 2009 at 21:54

    I feel that the social problems this product will cause can not at all be overlooked. Children definitely follow whatever they do in their childhood, so it will for sure increase the number of people who consume alcohol. But, from a business point of you, if you are concerned with only the bottom line, i guess this product can be extremely profitable.

38. 

    Sree Harsha Uddandam September 23rd, 2009 at 22:57

    Ya I was thinking the same thing that Ankit told.
    Children tend to follow the same habits that they learned in their childhood. So this point should be taken care of.
    other wise it is a really innovative crazy idea to the youngsters who wanted to drink bear.

39. 

    Ryan Pogotis September 23rd, 2009 at 23:10

    The level of alcohol abuse is absurd in America. Any thing adding to that any earlier in life is a horrible idea, but I don’t think this is a bad step really. Half of what gets minors abusing alcohol is the fact that it feels rebellious and sneaky. If beer were “old new” sooner it wouldn’t be abused as often.

    On a side note about drinking habits, and laws in general, concerned citizens shouldn’t fight to keep laws in place that don’t work. I think the best solution to drinking in America is a drinking permit. If at 18 parents feel there children are old enough to drink they should be allowed to the B.M.V. or possibly some other type of government bureau and get their children a drinking permit. You would only be able to drink with you’re legal guardians.

40. 

    Zheng Wang September 23rd, 2009 at 23:19

    It is a good business idea to create a new kind of drink using the habit of chilren of mimicing and coping adults,however, making chilren as target consumers can be tough. They can’t control money.If their parents think this kind of product will have a bad influence on their kids, then the sales will go down.

41. 

    Andrew Rodriguez September 24th, 2009 at 00:03

    I completely agree with the societal rejection of the failed Anheuser-Busch because it promotes the under-aged consumption of alcohol. The Japanese counterpart, on the other hand, if it contains no alcohol, I personally see no problem with. It is outrageous that politicians have shot the idea down already without even an attempt and releasing it.

42. 

    Jake Vanhooser September 24th, 2009 at 08:10

    I think that this would only go over so well. I feel like it would be a cool thing to have for the kids at special occasions but that’s about it. I doubt if it would out sell the normal soda pops on the market just because it foams like a real beer

43. 

    Bin September 24th, 2009 at 11:44

    The topic was very interesting, and it sort of reminded me there is some kind of soft drink just like “Kodomo biiru” in China, which I think is a really innovative idea, because kids like to mimic adults, and if adults keep preveting them to drink beers, it will just make them become even more curious about the drink, thereby they will much more likely to get some illegally. As the result, the Japanese has done a really good job to make everyone has same chance to do what they like and got “drunk”.

44. 

    Sanford C September 24th, 2009 at 14:47

    Fun Fun Fun, Japanese never fail to put joy in their ads

45. 

    Brian Lee September 24th, 2009 at 20:32

    It’s an interesting idea but it’s kind of like those candy cigarettes if you’ve heard of those. I mean i don’t think this would help lower drinking but i don’t think it will necessarily increase it either in youth. Under-agers who want alcohol will probably find a way to get it. Those who want to “look cool” like they’re drinking beer will just get this.

46. 

    eugene September 24th, 2009 at 22:07

    theres no way on earth this product is going to be successful in the US.

47. 

    Sung jae September 25th, 2009 at 14:50

    I don’t think underage drinking will ever stop and i don’t really care. I also don’t think it isn’t that bad for kids to experience drinking beer as long as it doesn’t addict them. I haven’t heard about know any children that like to drink beer because it taste good but know they tried it because they are curious. But i find it funny in the commercial that the adult is drinking the kid drink with the children.

48. 

    Rohan Thakkar October 1st, 2009 at 11:57

    I dont get why kids would want fake beer!