Special Reports

I-Team: "Vulgar" Sparks Ad Is Pulled

Click Here To Read CSPI's Statement

Click Here To Read Miller's Letter To The CSPI.

(CBS4) Miller Brewing Company, the manufacturer of the fruit-flavored alcoholic energy drink Sparks, has ended a sponsorship campaign with Heavy.Com that involved dwarfs in various sexual scenarios.

The videos are an online spoof of HBO's program Entourage but re-named "Tiny Entourage". Some of the actors in the videos hold cans of Sparks while others talk in graphic detail about various sex acts, swear and in one case, an actor is seen holding what appears to be a two-foot long marijuana cigarette.

Centers for Health In The Public Interest protested the new campaign, calling it "new depths of irresponsibility". The CSPI's George Hacker says, "it was just replete with drug references, a two foot long marijuana cigarette, with explicit sexual references, and really vulgar gutter language which unfortunately appeals to young people." He also claimed that the sponsorship violated the Beer Institute's own code of ethics which state that industry advertising and marketing materials should adhere to good taste, not contain lewd or indecent material or graphic nudity.

In response, Miller has provided us with a copy of a letter it sent to Mr. Hacker discussing its concerns with "Tiny Entourage" and Miller's removal of its sponsorship of the spoof.

In another development, the CSPI has filed a lawsuit against Miller claiming it targets underage drinkers with its fruity concoctions. Investigative reporter Laurie Stein asked Miller about the litigation.

Miller e-mailed us the following statement which reads, "We do not comment on current litigation, but it is important to note that the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has approved all product formulations and labels for Sparks, Sparks Light, Sparks Plus and Sparks Red. We have and we will continue to ensure that the labeling, marketing and product formulations of all our brands meet all applicable federal regulations and that our brands are marketed responsibly to legal drinking age adults."

To read more about the CSPI's concerns and to read the Beer Institute's 2006 Advertising and Marketing Code, please CLICK HERE.

Click here to read Miller's letter to the CSPI.

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