Anheuser Busch Companies (BUD)

[FUNMAN]

Anheuser-Busch's Stella Artois unveils Super Bowl ad focused on clean water


By Bryce Gray


St. Louis Post-Dispatch 54 min ago


It's been estimated that Americans consume 325.5 million gallons of beer on Super Bowl Sunday — or, nearly one gallon for each person in the country.


In an upcoming Super Bowl commercial unveiled Tuesday, Anheuser-Busch brand Stella Artois says it's hoping that at least some of that beer consumption can help people in developing countries who are on the opposite end of the spectrum from such excess and don't have access to clean tap water.


In a 30-second ad featuring actor Matt Damon, the Belgian-based beer company details efforts to promote access to clean water in other parts of the globe through a partnership with Water.org, a non-profit organization. Anheuser-Busch InBev's U.S. operations are headquartered in St. Louis.

"Millions of people in the developing world walk up to six hours every day for water," says Damon, a co-founder of the organization, in the commercial titled, "Taps."


As Damon goes on to explain, Stella Artois will give proceeds from sales of special glasses, or chalices, to support Water.org's work in 10 developing countries. Throughout 2018, $3.13 from each of up to 300,000 chalices sold will be donated — enough to provide one person with clean water for five years.


The pledge is part of a broader arrangement the company has reached that stretches from January 15 to April 15. During that time frame, smaller amounts from sales of Stella Artois 12-packs and pints sold at bars will also be given to the cause.


Although this marks the fourth annual campaign in which Stella Artois has partnered with Water.org, this is the first time Stella Artois will air a Super Bowl commercial since 2011. The company said that, to date, it has directly given $8 million to water- and sanitation-focused organizations.


The ad was produced by the advertising company, Mother. Weber Shandwick, a public relations firm for Anheuser-Busch, said that Super Bowl commercials would eventually be released for other brands under the company's portfolio, including Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra.