Anheuser-Busch Markets Bud Light Cans to College Students

Aug. 28, 2009— -- A new Anheuser-Busch marketing strategy is taking "This Bud's for you" to a whole new level.

Their new customized beer can colors mimic the school colors of 26 universities around the nation. The "Fan Cans" were released just in time for fall football season. Although they don't bear a school name or logo, many school administrators say Anheuser-Busch crossed the line.

"It's an intentional act on their part to find colors that are associated with a certain market, but that market from our perspective is underage drinkers," said Dr. Kevin Prince, health education coordinator for the University of Texas at Austin. "My concern is does this [campaign] promote responsible drinking?"

But the can controversy angering colleges across the country hasn't stopped students from stocking up. Maggie Ogden, a nutrition major and senior at UT-Austin, said she bought a 24-pack because the cans were orange, mimicking UT's school colors: burnt orange and white.

"I like that it advertises football season, which is exciting," Ogden, 21, said. "There really wasn't much thought-process to [my decision to buy them]."

On Monday one eager University of Florida fan Tweeted, "Where can I get a pack of Gator Bud Light Fan Cans?"

"I'm flattered the cans have our colors," said UT government major and senior Mack Shaffer. He sampled one of the fan cans, but doesn't plan to buy them in the future.

"I think a beer's a beer," Schaffer, 21, said. "I'm not going to be persuaded to buy one painted in my school's colors over one I really like [to drink]."

The Federal Trade Commission, a government agency that promotes consumer protection, has spoken to the brewer and voiced concerns about the campaign, which many fear is geared to fans under the legal drinking age of 21.

"Our concern about the campaign is that when you're talking about a college campus, you're talking about a population of many underage students, and you're adding to it a population of mostly binge drinkers," said Janet Evans, a senior attorney at the FTC. "It was not the most responsible thing to do."