Troublesome Tiger

 

 

Alcohol advertisements are notorious for preying on the self-esteem of individuals. These are things that each and every one of us encounters in our day to day lives, whether that is in the form of television commercials, billboards, or social media, the advertisements are all around us. The fact that we see these things all the time combined with how alcohol is a legal drug produces a situation where it is all too easy to internalize and act on the messages that the advertisements present to us. Although it is entirely possible to consume alcohol in a safe, controlled manner, many people start to believe the ideologies given to them by the alcohol companies; they believe that they are a more social, more manly, sexier, or funnier version of themselves when they consume this product. Tiger beer produced an ad that is consistent with these things. This advertisement encompasses the main stereotypes that alcohol companies seek to reinforce, showcasing both manly men in competition with one another and a beautiful woman.

 

 

Tiger beer is produced by Asia Pacific Breweries of Singapore. It was founded in 1931 by Fraser & Neave and Heineken. It was the first large-scale brewery in Singapore, and Tiger beer was the first to be produced. They have been brewing for over eighty years and currently operate a $200 million brewery encompassing nine hectares in Tuas. They are the first Asian brewery to be ISO certified. Today, they have expanded a great deal and it is brewed in 12 Asian countries and available in more than 75 markets worldwide. They have stated their vision to be, “brewing a better world [and] creating great beer experiences for all occasions.” (apbsingapore.com)

 

 

 

 

Even though alcohol can only legally be consumed by those over 21, I believe this advertisement is aimed at males and females in their teenage years and up. It is a common idea that men must be as “manly as possible.” This is a socially constructed value that must be reinforced through time for it to prevail, and as such the socialization process must start early. Boys grow up learning that they have to fit a certain model to be successful men in the world, so being exposed to advertisements like this showcase that idea and over time allow them to internalize the message. For girls, the advertisements tell them that they must be perceived as beautiful by men in order to be successful in the world. Only once they are desirable can they get what they want. This advertisement played on YouTube, so it is something that could be seen by anyone of any age. By promoting their ideas in a casual setting, it is more likely that viewers would become more comfortable with the ideas over time and then choose to use the product to achieve those goals set out for them by the advertisers. It has been found that repeated exposure to alcohol advertisements increases the usage of alcohol, especially in non-drinkers (Smith, Foxcroft, 2009). Additionally, the mere-exposure effect has shown that unconsciously receiving stimuli creates an even larger effect than consciously receiving stimuli, meaning that even passive exposure to advertisements can lead to a profound effect (Bornstein, 1992.) So, by combining the increasing comfort of a familiar brand with the appeal the advertisements provide, younger adolescents grow up to drink more, and adults either drink more or drink more of this brand.

 

 

The active ingredient in alcohol is ethanol (C2H60). Whether this ingredient is beneficial or deleterious depends solely on the dose that is administered. With moderate drinking (which is typically defined as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men – although some research has suggested that even moderate drinking every day is not advisable) there seems to be a few health benefits such as aiding the heart and circulatory system and protecting against type 2 diabetes and gallstones. Heavy drinking, however, is the lead cause of preventable deaths in the United States and can lead to damage of the heart and liver, harm unborn children, and play a part in domestic violence and mental illness such as depression. It is most known for causing liver inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis) and scarring (cirrhosis). The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research have demonstrated that high alcohol usage can lead to a variety of cancers such as breast, liver, pharynx, larynx, colon, rectum, mouth, and esophagus. Alcohol can be very addictive, especially for those with a family history of abuse or who have gone through trauma, and withdrawals can kill you. Genes play a massive role in how an individual’s body will respond to the drug and whether or not they will develop problems with it. The beer advertisement did not mention any of the adverse health effects. They also did not mention that alcoholism impacts the lives of everyone around the alcoholic. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has found that alcoholism is prevalent in 18.2 million Americans, alcohol plays in a role in 1 in 3 violent crimes, it costs more than $185 billion every year, and alcohol causes car accidents that kill more than 16,000 people every year. These are huge impacts that affect not just the individual but also the society, family, and friends surrounding them. Although they depicted casual drinking, even engaging in that activity can carry some adverse effects such as trouble sleeping, clouded judgement, and interaction with medications including those that are over the counter pain medicines. (hsph.harvard.edu)

 

 

The alcohol ad was deceptive in that it initially depicted the need for men to be super macho in order to have success in gaining the last beer bottle. This plays on the idea that manly men always win in life, and unless each life event is a reinforcement of manhood, then you aren’t a “real man.” They go above and beyond to portray manliness in the actors’ transformations into traditionally manly beings such as wrestlers, gorillas, high-tech robots, and a presumable Tarzan-like figure. They go wild and are angry and competitive, just like animals. From an evolutionary point of view, this is what men evolved from, and so it brings them right back to their roots of what men historically needed to be in order to survive and to provide food for their communities and families. Research has been done finding that advertisements primarily focus on emotions in order to sway the audience (Hovland, 2016). By the end of the advertisement, they portray a beautiful woman gaining the upper hand, switching over to influencing the female viewers. This presets the idea that women must be sexy to gain male approval, and that men are powerless around attractive women. Alcohol advertisements consistently seem to exploit inherent sexism in our society and link their products with ideas of attractiveness to the opposite gender (Fullwood, Mongiovi, Hillyer, Basch, Ethan, Hammond, 2016). This suggests that not only does it reinforce the idea of needing to meet a certain stereotype yourself, but also that you should be drawn to members of the opposite gender who meet their own stereotypes. This reinforces sexist ideas and takes an incredibly heteronormative approach to values. The video shows that if you follow that protocol, then you will have success. Their slogan “enjoy winning” showcases this. They send the message that by drinking their beer, you are matching up with either the ideal male or female stereotype, and as such you will “win” at life (whatever that definition means to each individual.)

 

 

 

 

Alcohol is an incredibly powerful drug and as such must be consumed responsibly. Because of its prevalence in society it is very hard to escape. I do not believe that it has to be an inherently bad thing, but it is very easy to become one. As stated previously, there are some possible benefits that may be derived from moderate consumption. However, it is an easy task to cross over from the benefits to the detriments territory. There are numerous health risks associated with overuse. Because of this data, I would advise any friend or family member who is suffering from some form of mental illness, who has a family history of abuse, who is predisposed to one of the illnesses that alcohol can lead to, or who is going through some hard times and looking for a coping mechanism to stay away. For those who are not likely to suffer adverse effects from light usage and who are not predisposed to go down the path of addiction, I would advise them to be cautious and mindful of their consumption. It is always important to check in with yourself and have others looking out for you to make sure that you are still making the best decisions for your health and those around you. It is also important to do individual research and to weigh the costs and benefits once you are properly informed. Many people do not know of all the risks that legal drugs can still carry, so it is important to be aware of any factors that may make you uncomfortable. It is possible to safely drink alcohol and have an enjoyable time, but it is also important to prepare properly and see if the effects line up with personal goals for health and well-being.

 

Works Cited:

The effect of alcohol advertising, marketing and portrayal on drinking behaviour in young people: systematic review of prospective cohort studies

Lesley Smith-David Foxcroft – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2653035/

Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/alcohol-full-story/

 

Targeting gender: A content analysis of alcohol advertising in magazines

A-Reum Jung-Roxanne Hovland – Health Marketing Quarterly – 2016

 

An advertisement analysis of alcohol products in popular women’s magazines

M Fullwood-Jennifer Mongiovi-Grace Hillyer-Corey Basch-Danna Ethan-Rodney Hammond – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5235351/

 

Bornstein, R. F., & D’Agostino, P. R. (1992). Stimulus recognition and the mere exposure effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(4), 545-552.

 

http://www.apbsingapore.com

What do Puppies and Horses have to do with Beer??

If you’ve ever watched the Superbowl, you’re probably aware of the opinion shared by people around the world that it is the one time a year where the advertisements during commercial breaks are actually worth watching. With a 30 second ad having a price tag of $5 million dollars, (that’s $166,667 per second) (Business Insider), it’s no surprise that companies have perfected their advertisements through hundreds of thousands of dollars in an attempt to draw people in and persuade them to buy their product in the most effective way possible. These short commercials often exhibit beautiful cinematography, catchy music, famous actors, a sense of adventure, and amazing destinations, all which help to catch the attention of the viewers and leave them with a favorable impression of the product. Some of the most prominent commercials not just during the superbowl, but for anytime you’re watching TV are for alcoholic beverages. The majority of people can list of the names of popular beers even if they personally have never drank them. This is a result of effective marketing and advertising for alcohol. If you ask someone about beer commercials on TV or during the superbowl, many will automatically think of Budweiser’s signature Clydesdale horses and cute puppies, or Dos Equis’ the most interesting man in the world, ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byrbl6XFGW0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HX7y1yDi4) but In today’s blog, I will be focusing primarily on the advertisement done byAnheuser-Busch, the owners of several flagship brands including Budweiser, as this is the company whose alcohol advertisements have stuck out to me the most.

Anheuser-Busch is most recognized from the names “Budweiser,” and “Bud Light”, but the company also brews over 100 brands within the US and boasts a 45.8% share of the beer market. (anheuser-busch.com). Founded in 1852 and based out of St. Louis Missouri, Anheuser-Busch’s mission statement is: “We are a company built on a dream, a dream to exceed expectations, to surpass goals and achieve things no one would have ever thought possible. This is the driving force that propels us forward to achieve our global AB InBev family vision of bringing people together in a Better World.” (anheuser-busch.com).

Although alcoholic beverages are only allowed to be consumed by those over 21 years of age in this country, Anheuser-Busch’s advertisements target all age groups. The signature Budweiser clydesdale horses present in the majority of their commercials are popular amongst all age groups and especially capture the attention of children, leading to them being drawn to the brand later in their lives. Although many other beer companies show beautiful people in exotic places enjoying their product, Budweiser takes a different approach and typically doesn’t even show people consuming their beer in their video clips, rather they depict scenes that upstir and emotional reaction from the viewer, such as this one about a lost puppy, or this one about a soldier returning home. (linked below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iqjj2EKh64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hck3cXzg4_M

Although the beer being advertised isn’t explicitly shown, this technique of eliciting an emotional response to an advertisement has proven to be very effective, as it is memorable and heartwarming. And after all, who doesn’t love cute puppies and happy family reunions??

Another tactic in Budweiser’s advertising is the bold lighting and sense of superiority, that imply that only the best, courageous people drink Budweiser, and appeals to people by leading them to believe that if they drink Budweiser, they too can be brave, bold, and tough. They even have a slogan that Budweiser is the ‘King of beers’. Budweiser also promotes feelings of patriotism with the use of American flags and the representation of ‘hardworking Americans’.

Alcohol in America has resulted in many problems ranging from alcoholism, to fetal alcohol syndrome, to alcohol poisoning as the result of binge drinking. This is very contradictory to the positive aspect that the advertisements represent. Ethanol is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages and is responsible for the effects on the body and mind. Although it is legal, alcohol can be a very addictive substance that can lead to countless health problems as well as cause conflict within personal lives, but of course the ads mention none of this, as they don’t want to deter potential consumers from purchasing their product.

As someone who has enjoyed the consumption of alcohol, I would say that it is good, (as many things are), in moderation. The common problems that we see as the result of alcohol, i.e. drunk driving, vomiting, blacking out, ect. are all the result of overuse, but I believe that used responsibly (such as the commercials advise) alcohol can be a good way to wind down, relieve stress, and enjoy yourself. Because of these reasons, I would wholeheartedly recommend the regulated consumption of alcohol to friends, family, or peers, but I would also emphasize how important moderation is in preventing the negative aspects of alcohol that have to potential to make themselves known when binge drinking is involved.

In conclusion, the Anheuser-Busch companies, particularly Budweiser has been effective in the marketing of their product through various advertising tactics, which has allowed them to become a major power within the beer industry. Even with all the negative side effects, there is a reason alcohol is still legal in this country, and it’s because it has its benefits and has been enjoyed by Americans for generations.

 

Citations

Gould, S. (2017, February 05). See how Super Bowl ad costs skyrocketed over the years. Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://www.businessinsider.com/super-bowl-ad-price-cost-2017-2

We are a Company Built on a Dream. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://www.anheuser-busch.com/about.html

 

Sleeping Aids- Melatonin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVVbiJUv2OM

 

 

 

For this assignment, I selected Sleeping Aids, specifically melatonin, as my drug to analyze. Melatonin is a drug that I personally use quite frequently. I discovered it in high school, and thought it was great because I had a hard time falling asleep at night. After using it for several months I began to become concerned, I started needing it to fall asleep. Now I try to take it only when I really need to, generally if I’m feeling stressed or anxious about something, and my thoughts are keeping me awake. Or just if I really need to get a lot sleep that night and I want to fall asleep fast. So probably one or two nights out of every week. I chose this commercial because I thought it showed melatonin in a very positive light. The comparison of the woman taking melatonin falling asleep super fast and waking up feeling refreshed and happy, to the man lying awake next to her struggling to wake up the next morning and feeling extremely tired. This just showed how companies will try to make it look like their products will make your life one thousand times better.

 

Natrol Melatonin in their commercial claims to be the “number one brand of melatonin” on the market. From their website they make it easy for you to find the ingredients and actually take the time to explain the benefit of each one and why it’s in the product. I found this to be very nice and helpful, it did make me feel more trusting of this specific brand of Melatonin which I think was the goal of the company. Also on their website they have information about many different subjects relating to sleep, such as the sleep cycles, and how to use melatonin responsibly. In my opinion this was above and beyond what I would’ve expected a company to do for their product. I couldn’t find any negative aspects or scandals related to this company, I believe they are very trustworthy.

 

On Natrol’s About us page is states that “For over 35 years, Natrol has been a leading manufacturer of Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements and is dedicated to empowering consumers to “Own Your Health” with the help of our top-selling products, Melatonin, 5-HTP and Biotin. At the core of Natrol’s success is our unwavering focus on five strategic principles — Quality, People, Innovation, Customer Service, and Cost Effectiveness”. They also state that “We define quality as delivering safe, effective, and trustworthy products that meet consumers’ expectations every time.  Our quality assurance program is extensive and industry leading. We perform rigorous quality checks throughout our process from exhaustive supplier qualification screening to the sourcing of the best ingredients. We have consistently achieved the highest “A” rating from the Natural Products Association.”

 

I found this commercial on youtube, but it was originally played on television. From the age of the actors in the commercial, it looks to me that this product was being marketed to an older crowd. Anywhere from college students struggling to get enough sleep, to parents or the elderly. The commercials punch line is “own your sleep” meaning that people can take control and get the sleep they need through this product. One line from the commercial that I thought was interesting was that they claimed that this is the “one hundred percent number one drug free way to get healthier sleep”. It’s odd to me that they would use the language “drug free” when advertizing this sleeping aid. I think the reasoning behind this is that they want to appear as natural as possible, they heavily stress in the commercial that melatonin is non habit forming. They want to make people believe that taking melatonin is completely natural and healthy for you, so they must be targeting people who are health conscious. By exaggerating the benefits of taking melatonin the commercial also targets anyone who could be suffering from sleep problems. Natrol has a great marketing campaign that will spark the interests of many people who are concerned they might not be getting enough sleep. Making the product look natural, easy and effective will not stir up any concerns an individual might have, I also noticed that they didn’t list any negative side effects Melatonin might have at the end of the commercial. Not listing negative side effects of a product make it seem like there are no downsides of the product, which in my opinion is very deceptive of them.

 

On the Natrol website they have a Products by Ingredient list. Under the Advanced Sleep  Melatonin they list the active ingredients, their dosage, and what percent that is of your daily value. Natrol describes their product as “Advanced Sleep Melatonin is a 2-layer controlled release tablet that releases and an initial 5mg dosage to help you fall asleep fast, and then releases the remaining 5mg over time to help you stay asleep through the night.” The active ingredients are:

 

1) Melatonin, 10 mg, *(daily percentage not available), “a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that inhibits melanin formation and is thought to be concerned with regulating the reproductive cycle.”

 

2) Vitamin B6, 10 mg, 500% daily value, (A number of vitamins serve as coenzymes, substances that enhance the action of enzymes and thereby aid in catalyzing biochemical reactions.) The vitamin B6 group is especially important to the function of the central nervous system, skin, and blood.”

 

3) Calcium, 23 mg, 2% daily value, ”the most plentiful mineral found in the human body. The teeth and bones contain the most calcium. Nerve cells, body tissues, blood, and other body fluids contain the rest of the calcium.”

 

The inactive ingredients listed were “Cellulose, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Methylcellulose, Glycerin.”

 

One thing I did not know was that Vitamin B6 actually enhances the effect of other drugs, this was surprising for me to find out. Also that we have so much of it just in a single serving of this product, why did they need to put in that much of it? What will happen from long term use of this product? Besides my initial concern over the B6 vitamin, I’m not concerned about any of the other active drugs. Your body can definitely because dependant on melatonin, because it will stop producing it on its own. After long term use you will probably have a hard time falling asleep without it. If taken properly and as directed then I don’t see a need to be concerned over Melatonin. Its when people don’t follow the directions that you can see the problems forming from it. That is their risk though, and even if they don’t follow the directions nothing crazy bad will happen to them.

 

In my opinion yes Melatonin from Natrol is safe to use, and yes I would recommend it to a friend or family member. As long as they are following the proper usage directions then they shouldn’t be negatively affected by melatonin in any way. I was especially impressed by Natrol’s superior quality testing, they are clearly devoted to keeping their quality of product high and their customers happy. With other brands of melatonin I would still think it’s fine for my loved ones to take them, but I would hope that they were taking a quality equally as high. From my research I feel confident recommending this to any young adult and up. I wouldn’t recommend this product to children. Just because taking something that your body naturally produces that young could eventually lead to them having troubles producing it themselves.

 

Works Cited

 

Melatonin. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.natrol.com/ingredients/melatonin/

 

Melatonin: How It Affects Sleep – Watch WebMD Video. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/video/melatonin-sleep

 

What Is Melatonin? (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/what-is-melatonin

 

Sleeping Aids- Melatonin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVVbiJUv2OM

 

For this assignment, I selected Sleeping Aids, specifically melatonin, as my drug to analyze. Melatonin is a drug that I personally use quite frequently. I discovered it in high school, and thought it was great because I had a hard time falling asleep at night. After using it for several months I began to become concerned, I started needing it to fall asleep. Now I try to take it only when I really need to, generally if I’m feeling stressed or anxious about something, and my thoughts are keeping me awake. Or just if I really need to get a lot sleep that night and I want to fall asleep fast. So probably one or two nights out of every week. I chose this commercial because I thought it showed melatonin in a very positive light. The comparison of the woman taking melatonin falling asleep super fast and waking up feeling refreshed and happy, to the man lying awake next to her struggling to wake up the next morning and feeling extremely tired. This just showed how companies will try to make it look like their products will make your life one thousand times better.

 

Natrol Melatonin in their commercial claims to be the “number one brand of melatonin” on the market. From their website they make it easy for you to find the ingredients and actually take the time to explain the benefit of each one and why it’s in the product. I found this to be very nice and helpful, it did make me feel more trusting of this specific brand of Melatonin which I think was the goal of the company. Also on their website they have information about many different subjects relating to sleep, such as the sleep cycles, and how to use melatonin responsibly. In my opinion this was above and beyond what I would’ve expected a company to do for their product. I couldn’t find any negative aspects or scandals related to this company, I believe they are very trustworthy.

 

On Natrol’s About us page is states that “For over 35 years, Natrol has been a leading manufacturer of Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements and is dedicated to empowering consumers to “Own Your Health” with the help of our top-selling products, Melatonin, 5-HTP and Biotin. At the core of Natrol’s success is our unwavering focus on five strategic principles — Quality, People, Innovation, Customer Service, and Cost Effectiveness”. They also state that “We define quality as delivering safe, effective, and trustworthy products that meet consumers’ expectations every time.  Our quality assurance program is extensive and industry leading. We perform rigorous quality checks throughout our process from exhaustive supplier qualification screening to the sourcing of the best ingredients. We have consistently achieved the highest “A” rating from the Natural Products Association.”

 

I found this commercial on youtube, but it was originally played on television. From the age of the actors in the commercial, it looks to me that this product was being marketed to an older crowd. Anywhere from college students struggling to get enough sleep, to parents or the elderly. The commercials punch line is “own your sleep” meaning that people can take control and get the sleep they need through this product. One line from the commercial that I thought was interesting was that they claimed that this is the “one hundred percent number one drug free way to get healthier sleep”. It’s odd to me that they would use the language “drug free” when advertizing this sleeping aid. I think the reasoning behind this is that they want to appear as natural as possible, they heavily stress in the commercial that melatonin is non habit forming. They want to make people believe that taking melatonin is completely natural and healthy for you, so they must be targeting people who are health conscious. By exaggerating the benefits of taking melatonin the commercial also targets anyone who could be suffering from sleep problems. Natrol has a great marketing campaign that will spark the interests of many people who are concerned they might not be getting enough sleep. Making the product look natural, easy and effective will not stir up any concerns an individual might have, I also noticed that they didn’t list any negative side effects Melatonin might have at the end of the commercial. Not listing negative side effects of a product make it seem like there are no downsides of the product, which in my opinion is very deceptive of them.

 

On the Natrol website they have a Products by Ingredient list. Under the Advanced Sleep  Melatonin they list the active ingredients, their dosage, and what percent that is of your daily value. Natrol describes their product as “Advanced Sleep Melatonin is a 2-layer controlled release tablet that releases and an initial 5mg dosage to help you fall asleep fast, and then releases the remaining 5mg over time to help you stay asleep through the night.” The active ingredients are:

 

1) Melatonin, 10 mg, *(daily percentage not available), “a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that inhibits melanin formation and is thought to be concerned with regulating the reproductive cycle.”

 

2) Vitamin B6, 10 mg, 500% daily value, (A number of vitamins serve as coenzymes, substances that enhance the action of enzymes and thereby aid in catalyzing biochemical reactions.) The vitamin B6 group is especially important to the function of the central nervous system, skin, and blood.”

 

3) Calcium, 23 mg, 2% daily value, ”the most plentiful mineral found in the human body. The teeth and bones contain the most calcium. Nerve cells, body tissues, blood, and other body fluids contain the rest of the calcium.”

 

The inactive ingredients listed were “Cellulose, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Methylcellulose, Glycerin.”

 

One thing I did not know was that Vitamin B6 actually enhances the effect of other drugs, this was surprising for me to find out. Also that we have so much of it just in a single serving of this product, why did they need to put in that much of it? What will happen from long term use of this product? Besides my initial concern over the B6 vitamin, I’m not concerned about any of the other active drugs. Your body can definitely because dependant on melatonin, because it will stop producing it on its own. After long term use you will probably have a hard time falling asleep without it. If taken properly and as directed then I don’t see a need to be concerned over Melatonin. Its when people don’t follow the directions that you can see the problems forming from it. That is their risk though, and even if they don’t follow the directions nothing crazy bad will happen to them.

 

In my opinion yes Melatonin from Natrol is safe to use, and yes I would recommend it to a friend or family member. As long as they are following the proper usage directions then they shouldn’t be negatively affected by melatonin in any way. I was especially impressed by Natrol’s superior quality testing, they are clearly devoted to keeping their quality of product high and their customers happy. With other brands of melatonin I would still think it’s fine for my loved ones to take them, but I would hope that they were taking a quality equally as high. From my research I feel confident recommending this to any young adult and up. I wouldn’t recommend this product to children. Just because taking something that your body naturally produces that young could eventually lead to them having troubles producing it themselves.

 

Works Cited

 

Melatonin. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.natrol.com/ingredients/melatonin/

 

Melatonin: How It Affects Sleep – Watch WebMD Video. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/video/melatonin-sleep

 

What Is Melatonin? (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/what-is-melatonin

 

I Need Some Caffeine

The topic I chose to research was coffee. I chose this topic simply because it contains a drug that is frequently used in our society and it is a drug that is often seen as harmless without much reason to why it would or wouldn’t potentially be dangerous. Caffeine intake can come in various forms, including use of coffee, pre-workout, caffeine supplements, energy drinks and soda. Caffeine is a psychoactive, licit drug that is used very commonly in our society. Being a stimulant, caffeine will accelerate the activity of the central nervous system and its inhibitory effects include; alertness, wakefulness and increased heart rate, which can be helpful to some who need that extra boost in the morning or during the day when they are winding down and need more energy (caffeine). Since caffeine is often seen as a harmless, legal drug that everyone uses; it is easy for companies to use advertisements effectively.

How does it affect you?

The effects of caffeine may be felt for four to six hours and typically reaches its max level in your blood within one hour of consumption. Caffeine can also affect your body’s metabolism; which includes potentially interfering with absorption of calcium, increasing the release of acid in your stomach, acting as a diuretic and increasing blood pressure. Some side effects you may see if you consume too much caffeine include: restlessness, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, headaches, arrhythmia, dehydration, anxiety and dependency. Caffeine may affect each person differently, but normally it is not harmful to your health to consume up to 400 mg of caffeine in a day (Caffeine). Caffeine does have an addictive element and if you stop taking the drug, the symptoms of withdrawal may include: headaches, drowsiness, irritability, nausea and difficulty concentrating, but typically disappear after two or three days (Caffeine). According to the Healthline article, “In most people, there is no long-term effect on blood pressure, but if you have irregular heart rhythms, caffeine may make your heart work harder. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart-related problems” (The effects). So there are some cases where caffeine can potentially be dangerous for a person. While rare, death could occur to do convulsions or irregular heart beat when a person overdoses on the drug (The effects). Caffeine is also commonly mixed with alcohol to “cancel” out the effects of alcohol, which is a depressant. When caffeine is mixed with alcohol it can be easy to forget how much caffeine or alcohol you have consumed. Combining the effects make it easy for a person to make poor decisions such as driving while under the influence of alcohol and to be taken advantage of. In severe cases it can lead to death, especially if alcohol is combined with too many energy drinks. A Jägerbomb and Four Loko are popular drinks that do this. Too much of this on a given night and depending on the person, can lead to being hospitalized or even death due to a heart attack for example.

Friend or Just a Customer?

Another popular way caffeine is consumed is through coffee. I would say that it is typical for a cup of coffee to be part of a large amount of people’s daily routine; I myself regularly consume coffee about each morning. Advertisements for coffee typically show no stigma. The United States is the leading consumer in coffee consumption with Americans consuming about 146 billion cups of coffee per year. There are thousands of Starbucks across the country and as of July 2017, there are about 7,500 Starbucks-owned stores in the United States. Starbucks started in 1971, in Seattle, WA and has become the most popular name-brand coffee house. Billions of dollars are spent on advertising by Starbucks and it’s hard to miss their signs, billboards, commercials, etc all over the country and often attempt to make their advertisements as personal as possible for the consumers. In the advertisement for Starbucks, I found this to be pretty similar to most other Starbucks commercials. Their target audience is young adults and teens who are on-the-go and need a quick drink and a lot of times use the coffee shops as a place to socialize. In the advertisement, they use upbeat, feel good music combined with the images of steam coming from a fresh cup to help the audience associate their product with a positive vibe. They use “here’s to friendship” in an attempt to make the service seem more personal, while also emphasizing the display of the person’s name on the cup. But this commercial could be deceiving. Starbucks has millions of customers and the service doesn’t always seem as genuine as shown in the commercial. They use the word “friendship” in their ad but it is not uncommon for the barista to put little effort into writing the customer’s name on the cup. Also with regard to the writing of the customer’s name on the cup, the ad shows the name very neatly written and spelled correctly when really it isn’t uncommon for the customer’s name to be completely different from the one they are told and in writing that is hard to see. Also, I am not trying to say all Starbucks baristas don’t work hard at what they do, but with as many customers as Starbucks attracts there is almost no way each of your Starbucks experiences are going to be as personal as the one displayed in the ads. They also avoid displaying the price for the drink and for how cheap it is to make coffee; Starbucks seems to sell their drinks overpriced but instead grab the attention of the customers with the flashy drinks. They also typically offer certain drinks for a limited-time varying on the season, persuading the customers to come buy the product when they can before it’s gone until next year and will glorify it in their advertisements. In other advertisements I have seen when it comes to coffee and even other caffeine products, the people in the advertisements typically look distressed and “not themselves” until they have had their coffee and when they have their coffee, they appear more happy. They also typically offer certain drinks for a limited-time varying on the season, persuading the customers to come buy the product when they can before it’s gone until next year and will glorify it in their advertisements.

Taking it to the Next Level

Another way caffeine is consumed is through pre-workout, which is an interesting workout supplement because they almost always include large amounts of caffeine and this type of supplement seems to be becoming more popular among athletes and those who exercise regularly. In the Gold Standard pre-workout, the caffeine intake is 175 mg per serving. This is another way caffeine is normalized in our culture and is often seen as a legal way to gain an edge for athletes or anyone who likes to train as opposed to use of a substance that is illegal such as steroids. In the video advertisement for the Gold Standard pre-workout, use words like “energized”, “focused” and when the man in the video took a drink of the pre-workout, he instantly appeared stronger as if he were transforming into the hulk. This is deceptive because pre-workout is not something that will instantly make you stronger, rather it is something you use to help facilitate your workout that could help you eventually get to the desired physique. The advertisement also does not tell you what is in the supplement, rather it just shows you what it could help you become, and there are many other factors than using pre-workout to reach your fitness goals such as the type of exercises complete and nutrition.

In my opinion, I find this drug to be quite helpful and would recommend this to a good friend or family member. However, I would also recommend to my friend or family member that they use caffeine in small doses. Although if the person has high blood pressure or problems that are heart-related, I would advise those people to be cautious and watch their intake, if any.

Caffeine: MedlinePlus. (2017, September 29). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html

The Effects of Caffeine on Your Body. (2017, August 07). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body

Tabacco

 

 

 

Tabacco

For being a non-smoker, I can still name the top most popular companies for tobacco…Camel. Growing up and even to this day, it’s gotten pretty normal to see these kinds of adds and not even second guess what they might be doing near a park or even school. I choose this ad because I have heard of this ad on the radio several times. Tobacco use is quite common in today’s society, as college campus, public and private places may assign designated places for smoking. Walking by these places there is a high chance someone will be found standing around in one corner, smoking.  The company that caught my eye is Camel, from their distinct packing, o their mascot Joe Camel, has made this to be a classical tobacco company. This company was first founded by R.J Reynolds back in 1885, who was a son of a Tobacco farmer. He first established a factory where he produced about 15,000 pounds of tobacco, but soon moved onto millions. Before the release of his cigarettes, Reynolds promoted his product, by the soligin “The camels are coming”, which was derived from a song originally called “The campbells are coming”. This type of advertisement drove up the demand as soon as the product hit the markets. Since then the company had boomed, from the growth of tobacco users.

Intended Audience

“Tobacco companies will spend over $73 million promoting cigarettes in Maine this year – and they’re targeting kids”. As there has been more regulations being put on Tobacco advertisements, that hasn’t stopped them from reaching their audiences, that are teens. Most of these advertisements come in magazines, newspapers, and online. They find it easier to advertise to teens, are they are more easy to influence. And the sooner they start smoking, the more additive they will become as they grow older.  Whats even stranger is the mascot for Camel is Joe Camel, that can be see on quite a few ads from back in the day to even today. He seems to be a cartoonist figure, that relates to being innocent and sweet but aside from that he usually carries around a lit cigarette in his mouth.  For teens it would be much harder for them to quiet, if it has been part of their life for quite a while, if thy stated from a young age. It’s even more effect if a celebrity or an influential figure appears in the ad, this sort of advertising attracts a lot of attention from the young adults. Tobacco companies also try to attract certain gender either, by showcasing young beautiful women with slim figures, that are easy on the eyes for either some men or for women who see it as a way to obtain that figure. As tobacco suppressing the appetite for food, most often it will lead to a dangerous way to weight lose. This type of effect is quite attractive for young adults, who seek for that in their own life and will do anything to obtain it, even if it means putting their life in danger.

Active Ingredients

The most active Ingredient is Nicotine, “A poisonous volatile alkaloid derived from tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) and responsible for many of the effects of tobacco; it first stimulates (small doses), then depresses (large doses) at autonomic ganglia and myoneural junctions. Its principal urinary metabolite is cotinine” (Nordqvist). It could be either smoked or chewed as both result in altering effects on the person’s behavior. As Nicotine effects are fast as “Cigarette smoking results in nicotine reaching the brain within just 10 seconds of inhalation”( National Institute of Drug Abuse). With its rapid “relief”, it makes it a dangerous and highly addictive drug. As stated in the National Institute of Drug Abuse, that it accounts for an average of one third of all cancers. In almost 90 percent of lung related illness, such as cancer are caused by smoking cigarettes. Even though someone might be diagnosed with a deadly illness their ability to stop smoking is physically challenging, as their brains will crave more and more. Stopping them from being functional humans of society, they fall in the hands of tobacco use.

Advertising techniques

The advertisement above, attracted my attention with its vibrant colors that make it this cool thing to get. It states “taking pride in your flavor”, telling the consumer that the flavor they choose is sort of a step in the right direction. It’s almost saying that it’s alright to be smoking, in big and bold letters that see inviting and accepting. Below this it mentions, “Enjoy smoke free, spite free, drama free, that’s packed in a pouch for great tasting, long lasting anytime enjoyment. Camel SNUS-the pleasure’s all yours”. This ad speaks highly of the product that is displayed in the picture, as it states that is “drama free”. Fritz Gahagan, a former marketing consultant for five tobacco companies says that “The problem is how do you sell death? How do you sell a poison that kills 350,000 people per year, a 1,000 people a day? You do it with the great open spaces … the mountains, the open places, the lakes coming up to the shore, They do it with healthy young people. They do it with athletes. How could a whiff of a cigarette be of any harm in a situation like that? It couldn’t be – there’s too much fresh air, too much health – too much absolute exuding of youth and vitality – that’s the way they do it”. All this attracts people, who think they could achieve that sort of life, by getting maybe just a bit closer by buying that cigarette pack.

Overall opinion

Would I recommend this drug to a friend or family member? No. After engaging myself with the information provided to me and also using my common sense, I would not recommend this drug to anyone. With no real benefits, those who do smoke seem to be putting a lot on the line, for so little. Is some social setting the influence can get out of hand, but it’s still not worth, considering all the deadly side effects that will engulf you and will eventually lead you to an early grave.

 

References

 

Tobacco Ad.

https://goo.gl/images/wgDzgA

 

Ling, P. M., & Glantz, S. A. (2002). Why and How the Tobacco Industry Sells Cigarettes to Young Adults: Evidence From Industry Documents. American Journal of Public Health, 92(6), 908–916.

 

Nordqvist, C. (2015, December 1). “Nicotine: Facts, Effects, Nicotine Addiction.” Medical News Today. Retrieved from

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240820.php.

National Institute on Drug Abuse  https://www.drugabuse.gov

Coffee from where to where

 

 

 

Starbucks ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBm7Ata6Q_Q

 

On this blog, I am going to write about coffee. The reason why I chose to write about coffee is that it contains caffeine, which is a drug closely related to our lives. Many people are not aware or don’t consider it as a drug, however, according to TeensHealth, it says that“Caffeine is defined as a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system, causing increased alertness. Caffeine gives most people a temporary energy boost and elevates mood(2014).” The reason why I chose this advertisement from Starbucks is that it showed how closely caffeine(coffee) is connected to our lives, as well as making them look safe, good and gave me this desire of having a cup of coffee. I honestly thought it was a good advertisement.The advertisement that I chose shows how the coffee in Starbucks is made and delivered. People who are interested in how the coffee at Starbucks is made might see this advertisement at first. It makes us feel comfortable drinking coffee because it shows the background. They aren’t using any models but instead, they are using papers to depict people, and that makes a good taste.

 

~History~

1971
Starbucks opens first store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

1982
Howard Schultz joins Starbucks as director of retail operations and marketing. Starbucks begins providing coffee to fine restaurants and espresso bars.

1987
Il Giornale acquires Starbucks assets with the backing of local investors and changes its name to Starbucks Corporation. Opens in Chicago and Vancouver, Canada.
Total stores*: 17

1989
Total stores: 55

1994
Opens first drive-thru location.
Total stores: 425

1997
Establishes the Starbucks Foundation.
Opens stores in the Philippines.
Total stores: 1,412

2010
Expands digital offerings for customers with free unlimited Wi-Fi, Starbucks Digital Network.

Total stores: 16,858

2015

Opens stores in Panama
Total stores: 22,519 (as of June 28, 2015)

(Starbucks company timeline)

 

~Missions~

 

One person, one cup and one neighbor at a time.

Creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.

Acting with courage, challenging the status quo and finding new ways to grow our company and each other.

Being present, connecting with transparency, dignity, and respect.

Delivering our very best in all we do, holding ourselves accountable for results.

(Starbucks company profile,2017)

 

 

~How caffeine affect our body~

 

Healthline (the effects of caffeine on your body,2017) lists several effects that caffeine causes.

 

Central nervous system

“Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant. When it reaches your brain, the most noticeable effect is alertness. You’ll feel more awake and less tired, so it’s a common ingredient in medications to treat or manage drowsinessheadaches, and migraines. Studies have also found that people who drink coffee regularly have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia, and cut suicide risk by 45 percent. These benefits are limited to people who drink high-octane coffee, not decaf. Some people consider coffee to be a health drink, but like most foods, overindulging can cause side effects. For example, too much caffeine can give you headaches. This is primarily linked to caffeine withdrawal. The blood vessels in your brain become used to caffeine’s effects so if you suddenly stop consuming caffeine, it can cause a headache(August 2017).”

 

Other symptom

-anxiety

-irritability

-drowsiness

 

Digestive and excretory systems

“Caffeine increases the amount of acid in your stomach and may cause heartburn or upset stomach. Extra caffeine doesn’t get stored in your body either. It’s processed in the liver and exits through your urine. This is why you might have an increase in urination shortly after having caffeine(2017).”

 

Circulatory and respiratory system

“Caffeine can make your blood pressure go up for a short time. This effect is thought to be attributed to either an increase in adrenaline or a temporary block on the hormones that naturally widen your arteries. In most people, there is no long-term effect on blood pressure, but if you have irregular heart rhythms, caffeine may make your heart work harder. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart-related problems, ask your doctor if caffeine is safe for you to consume.

 

Skeletal and muscular system

“Caffeine in large amounts may interfere with absorption and metabolism of calcium. This can contribute to bone thinning (osteoporosis).If you consume too much, caffeine may cause also your muscles to twitch.

 

Reproductive system

“Caffeine travels within the bloodstream and crosses the placenta. Since it’s a stimulant, it can cause your baby’s heart rate and metabolism to increase. Too much caffeine can also cause slowed fetal growth and increased risk of miscarriage. In most cases, a little caffeine is safe during pregnancy.

 

 

 

The amounts

Caffeineinformer says that“More than 4 cups of coffee linked to early death. A Mayo Clinic partnered study found that men who drank more than four 8 Fl.oz. cups of coffee had a 21% increase in all-cause mortality. However, those that reported that they consumed excessive amounts of caffeine were also likely to smoke and have poor fitness.”

 

 

We can see that there are many good effects as well as bad effects to our body. I’ve also heard that caffeine can suppress our appetite. But this might cause some health problems as well so people need to be careful.

 

 

 

http://www.studentshow.com/gallery/3963019/Starbucks-Window-Advertisment

Here is another advertisement from Starbucks. This shows how big the name value is in Starbucks and I think that this advertisement is aimed toward repeaters. This is like another strategy how Starbucks promotes their own coffee using their own name and attracting customers with familiarity.

 

~Conclusion~

 

A lot of people drinks coffee every day and it is kind of like a custom drinking a cup of coffee in the morning.  I personally like drinking coffee and it always helps me when I need to wake up late. I didn’t consider caffeine as a drug before but now I do and I learned that moderation is the key to keep being healthy.  I will recommend everyone to drink coffee. Of course, there are some effects from caffeine but I personally like the smell and the taste of coffee. It makes me relax and concentrate on my work. People who drink two to three cups of coffee on a daily base has a low risk of heart disease, having a stroke, or committing suicide (Fine News!). There is a lot of studying out there so I am not sure what to believe, but I hope I could make the right choice and live healthier.

 

References:

Teens Health (2014): http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/caffeine.html

Starbucks Company Timeline (2017): https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/starbucks-company-timeline

Starbucks Company Profile (2017):https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/mission-statement

Healthline, The effects of caffeine on your body (2017):https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body

caffeine informer:https://www.caffeineinformer.com/harmful-effects-of-caffeine

Starbucks window advertisement: http://www.studentshow.com/gallery/3963019/Starbucks-Window-Advertisment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starbucks and their advertisments

Starbucks and their advertisements

 

  1. Why did I choose this ad and Starbucks?

For this topic, I’m going to pick an ad from Starbucks to debunk it. I picked coffee for this topic because coffee is really common for college students, and I want to know more about coffee as I drink lots of coffee every day. Here is a picture of the ad that I picked.

I chose this specific ad because the words of it is very intriguing, the ad itself claims that Starbucks makes the best coffee, very arrogant yet it grabbed my attention. The reason why I picked this ad from Starbucks because Starbucks is one of the biggest coffee chain in the world to get there they had very good marketing tactics and advertisements. As a result, I want to see use of their ads to see how they manipulate their consumers into buying their coffee. Founded in 1971 by Zev Siegl, Gordon Bowker and Jerry Baldwin Starbucks has their shops in over 70 countries. Starbucks revenue hit ~21 billion (2016) and the company is offering over 300,000 jobs across all its stores.

 

 

  1. Starbucks’ history 

Let’s go a little deeper in Starbucks’ history. The first ever Starbucks was opened on, March 31st 1971. Baldwin, Siegl and Bowker were taught how to roast coffee beans by Alfred Peet and decided they wanted to sell high quality coffee. The logo of Starbucks originally was made as a siren inspired by Greek Mythology. The first logo of Starbucks was completely topless and had a double tail. The 2nd logo of Starbucks was a big change to the company, they changed the primary color of the logo from brown to green and dark brown in the middle of the circle. In 2011, the company made a small change to the logo which switched it to an all green logo and enlarged the siren logo. The name “Starbucks” comes from the chief mate in the book Moby-Dick. On 1989, there were 46 Starbucks stores in the Midwest and the Northwest and Starbucks was roasting over 2,000,000,000 lbs. annually. In 2008, Starbucks expanded their shops to countries such as: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Portugal. By 2017, Starbucks has over 21,000 stores worldwide.

 

  1. Who is this ad for?

I found this ad after 30 minutes of searching the World Wide Web, although they were many other choices but I wanted to pick this ad because it belongs to Starbucks. For this specific ad, in my opinion its intended audience is wide. Starbucks doesn’t really seem to aim to an age group or a group of people, they just want to aim it to coffee drinkers. “If your coffee isn’t perfect, we’ll make it over. If it’s still not perfect make sure you are in a Starbucks”. The reason why I said this message isn’t intended for a specific age group is because the purpose of the message is very straight forward: we’ll make sure your coffee is good and if your coffee is not good then you aren’t in one of our stores. If it was for college students, I assume they would say something about exams and tests to attract college students to buy coffee during midterms or finals week. Being a college student, I’ve seen a few ads for coffee during finals week where we can bring a plastic cup for a 2$ off coffee at Starbucks to attract us to go there and fuel up for our exams. If the ad was intended for couples, it would send a message for an individual to be a better person. For example, when I was searching for this ad, I’ve seen a coffee ad that had a couple kissing and in their hands they are holding coffee cups from Nescafe (implying that your relationship will be strengthened when you drink Nescafe).

 

  1. The products of Starbucks  

Starbucks offers a lot of products on their menu, in this post I will go over a few of them that I think was interesting and mind-opening. The first one is the Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte. As listed on the website, the ingredients are: Non-fat milk, brewed espresso, sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Syrup, Water, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Sucralose, Sodium Benzoate and caramel color. Although it has nothing to with the ingredients, I’m not too happy with the name of this products that is promoting that skinny is better and that people need the “skinny” drink. Leave that aside, the sucralose in this latte has been getting a few researches that stated that it’s not safe to intake this ingredient. For instance, an experiment conducted by the CSPI that tested sucralose on rodents found out that rodents that had been consuming sucralose increased their risk to leukemia. Another ingredient in this product that is controversial is the artificial sweeteners. To be more specific, a review by “International Journal of Pediatric Obesity” stated that artificially-sweetened consumption is linked with weight gain in children. The second product I want to walk about is the white chocolate mocha. As listed on Starbucks’ website the ingredients are comprised of: Milk, White chocolate, Mocha Sauce, Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Sorbate Mono-glycerides, Brewed Espresso, Whipped Cream, Mono and Diglycerides, Carrageenan, Vanilla Syrup and Natural Flavor. First, mono-glycerides contains trans-fat and the consumption of trans-fat is strongly linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The Center of disease Control and Prevention has in fact linked it to over 20,000 cases of heart attack annually and stated that trans-fat doesn’t have any health benefits to its users. Moreover, the whipped cream on top of this product also carrageenan in it (carrageenan has been known for causing digestion problems)

 

  1. What techniques did they use for this ad

The main techniques they used for this ad is attention grabber (with their words) and visual imagery. Although it’s made pretty simple, as we always said simplicity is the key to success “If your coffee isn’t perfect, we’ll make it over. If it’s still not perfect, you must not be in a Starbucks”. This ad was written on what looks like a piece of canvas so it kept its classiness. At the bottom of the canvas paper we also see a cup of Starbuck coffee. This ad is such an attention grabber because it shows Starbucks’ arrogance. As they did this ads they were basically saying that they were the best coffee chain out there and there is no way that there coffee would taste bad. At the end of the canvas you also see another attention grabber “It’s not just coffee, it’s Starbucks” which I’m pretty sure is main message they are trying to convey here (the main campaign). The point here is to signify “Starbucks” making it more than just a cup of coffee you drink every morning to keep you awake and working, more like a sentimental product.

 

  1. My opinion on Starbucks’ products

Overall, to be completely honest I do enjoy Starbucks’ products despite the ingredients they use in our drinks that might affect our health. I have a firm believe that if you don’t over use something then it can’t be affecting your life in a negative way. I’m sure all of us have at least had one of the products from Starbucks since we are pretty close to Seattle and that was where the whole company chain started. Starbucks is one of Seattle most famous company and we should respect them and their products. However I would not recommend any good friends or family members of mine to overuse coffee from Starbucks. According to mayoclinic.org, 400 mg of caffeine (which is the main ingredient in coffee) per day is safe for most healthy adults. Moreover, I also believe that we all have different side effects when we take coffee. I’ve had some, not too many friends/ family members that don’t really enjoy coffee because they feel aren’t capable of coping with coffee side effects such as nausea, upsetting stomach, migraine, faster heartbeat, etc. Also, I would not recommend coffee for any users under 18 years old. The reason for this is because adolescence and childhood times are used for bone strengthening. Too much caffeine for people under the age of 18 can interfere with calcium absorption and affects growth. Obviously, if high schoolers drink a few cups of coffee whenever they have a test or exams it’s totally acceptable, just don’t form a habit of doing so every day. As a college student, I consume around 300-400mg of caffeine every day and I feel like it’s a part of my life now. I take early morning classes and I have a part time job, as a result without coffee it would be really hard for me to stay focus and work efficiently. All in all, coffee (from Starbucks or not), is an acceptable form of stimulant that should be used in a smart manner that would help us perform better in our everyday’ lives

Citations:

  1. Babe, Food. “Starbucks Finally Publishes Drink Ingredient List… Here Are The Worst Ones!”Food Babe, 13 Sept. 2016, foodbabe.com/2016/09/13/starbucks-finally-publishes-drink-ingredient-list/.
  2. Mayo Clinic Staff. “Caffeine: How Much Is Too Much?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Mar. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20045678.
  3. “Ask the Experts: When Can Kids Start Drinking Coffee?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 11 June 2015, www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/experts-when-can-kids-drink-coffee.
  4. “Starbucks Company Statistics.” Statistic Brain, 1 Apr. 2017, www.statisticbrain.com/starbucks-company-statistics/.
  5. Chan, Amanda L. “How Safe Is Splenda? CSPI Urges Caution for Artificial Sweetener.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 June 2013, www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/12/splenda-health-risks-cspi-leukemia-artificial-sweeteners_n_3431024.html.
  6. “Starbucks.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Oct. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks.

Erectile Dysfunction & The NFL

Boner Pills, also known by the pharmaceutical names Viagra, or Cialis are the top spenders on paid media. The ad(s) I have chosen to discuss is the NFL Viagra Commercial that aired in 2016, along with its many precursor ads from previous years. Viagra was the biggest investor in NFL air time last season, followed directly by its competitor Cialis. I chose this advertisement because of its massive impact on viewers at the time. It became an incredibly common and recognizable ad to all football fans and T.V viewers alike; exposing millions of football fans to erectile dysfunction medication. I chose to write about Viagra because as a female, erectile dysfunction medication generally is not something I am well educated on or have any consternation for in my life.

Viagra is owned by Pfizer Inc. one of the U.S’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Pfizer was established 1849 in Brooklyn NY. Starting off as a chemical manufacturing company Pfizer soon became the U.S’s largest pharmaceutical company. Pfizer company is the creator of some of our country’s most commonly used prescriptions such as the EpiPen, Xanax, Zoloft, Lipitor, Lyrica, and Viagra. Pfizer’s webpage hold countless pages of prescription drugs under their company, backed up with plenty of expertise and research in areas such as neuroscience and pain, inflammation and immunology, oncology, and more. Like Pfizer, Eli Lilly & Company, the pharmaceutical company behind Cialis is a leader in pharmaceutics in the U.S and around the world. Not much younger than Pfizer, and just as established and accredited, Lilly makes a much more apparent “promise to it’s customers than Pfizer. As opposed to their counterpart Pfizer, Lilly had a much stronger emphasis on “caring and discovery”. The vision statement from their website says “We will make a significant contribution to humanity by improving global health in the 21st century”. It is very apparent in Eli Lilly’s site that they have a lot more integrity as a pharmaceutical company than Pfizer and truly want to make a difference.

NFL – The Perfect Audience

The intended audience for Viagra is middle aged men. According to the Annals of Internal Medicine 50 is the age when male sexual function begins to deteriorate. According to a web article on Ad Age, the median age of football watchers in 2016 is 50. This makes the NFL audience a sweet spot for Viagra and Cialis. Erectile dysfunction medication can also be seen targeting the golf audience as well, with a median age of 64. Erectile dysfunction ads have become such a icon in football season, being seen even in the Super Bowl. According to Ad Age “In 2004, Levitra ran a 45-second spot during CBS’s broadcast of XXXVIII that featured former Bears head coach Mike Ditka” View the ad here.

Like many ads that air during foot ball season the Viagra ad linked above targets a male audience. In the commercial, a sexy middle aged woman lounges on a bed, wearing a football jersey, foundling a football and rambling off erectile dysfunction statistics. Similarly, advertisements for Cialis also air during the NFL season, with the same idea in mind. The advertisements include an attractive young woman out and about with a slightly older looking man. Viagra and Cialis commercials were to prevalent on T.V. during football season that many spoofs were made off the commercials. Here is a funny one by Ellen on her talk show.

Cialis Commercial “A Moment Turns Romantic” shown during a football game

The Effects of Viagra on the Body

Viagra and Cialis belong to the same class called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. The active ingredient in Cialis is tedalafil and sildenafil in Viagra. Both drugs only work when a man is sexually aroused. According to Dr. Abraham Morgentaler Viagra can be addictive not physically so much as psychologically. Viagra’s effect on a man’s sexual performance is so successful that people can develop a psychological dependence on the drug whether they really need it or not.

An interesting article from Everyday Health states that erectile dysfunction drugs can come with serious side effects such as hearing and vison loss and now an increased risk of melanoma. Many of the more common side effects of Viagra and Cialis are displayed with the drug in ads but do not begin to touch on how extensive the list of side effects are. Viagra has effects on the central nervous system, digestive system, and circulatory system. Common side effects include flushing or redness of the face, decreased blood pressure, priapism, headache, runny nose, ringing in the ears, indigestion, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. Viagra can also have potentially dangerous interactions with heart disease drugs such as alpha blockers, or nitrates.

Advertising techniques used by Viagra and Cialis alike are visual imagery and attention grabbers. Attractive celebrities and men and women engaging in fun date-like activities in Viagra commercials are used to make men think using these types of drugs will enhance their sex life and attract women. Viagra commercials also use statistics like “over half of men over 40 have erectile dysfunction” as an attempt to make it seem like all men with erectile dysfunction use Viagra for it. Additionally, images of relatively young and attractive women in summer dresses in vacation-like settings are presenting this information in a sexy manner.

My overall opinion of Viagra is somewhat indifferent in a sense that it does not directly apply to me, but after doing research on the drug I would not be extremely worried if a friend or family member was taking Viagra for its intended purpose. There isn’t anybody I know that I would comfortably recommend Viagra to, especially considering the target age for the drug. Otherwise, the advertisements for Viagra and Cialis tend to do a decent job at identifying all the possible side effects and warning that come along with it. There was even some recent research I found promoting additional health benefits of Viagra.

Works Cited:

A Surprising Side Effect of Viagra: Melanoma? (2014, April 08). from https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/adam-friedman-the-skin-youre-in/viagra-use-and-the-risk-of-melanoma-is-the-risk-real-and-how-do-we-deal/

Bulik, B. S. The top 10 most-advertised prescription drug brands.

from http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-report/top-10-most-advertised-prescription-drug-brands

Crupi. A. & Anthony Crupi. (2017, July 07). Deflategate 2.0: Big-Spending Viagra and Cialis Are Pulling Out of the NFL., from http://adage.com/article/special-report-tv-upfront/erectile-dysfunction-viagra-cialis-NFL-pullout/309692/

(2016, March 29). Cialis vs Viagra – What’s the… Cialis vs Viagra – What’s the difference between them?, from https://www.drugs.com/answers/viagra-vs-cialis-3029937.html

Eli Lilly & Company. October 26, 2017, from https://www.lilly.com/

Morgentalor, Dr. Is Viagra addictive? from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/is-viagra-addictive

Pfizer Inc. October 26, 2017, from http://www.pfizer.com/

Sildenafil (Viagra) May Help Improve Control of Pulmonary Hypertension. (2002, April 2). from http://annals.org/aim

The Effects of Viagra on the Body. (2015, August 26). from https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/effects-of-viagra-on-the-body

(2016, October 17). Cialis, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i9vYI9lvIc

(2016, October 17). Viagra: Football, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bp2wSKv6WU

(2016, October 17).  Ellen’s Viagra Commercial, from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APLdlTRkkik

 

Dangers of Alcohol – Corona

Alcohol is a widely accepted as a social drug, mainly due to the supporting media advertisements. This Debunk will focus solely on alcohol.

I picked Corona for my ad debunk because it it popular among my peers. Corona’s website has a short paragraph thats they chose to represent the brand:”When you bring the three together, unforgettable moments and unbeatable experiences are bound to happen. Corona embodies that carefree state of mind you find when you’re living truly in the moment. With ice-cold Corona in your cooler and good company by your side, your beach is never far away”. I’ve selected an Ad from 2011 that has many interesting features worthy of discussion

 

History of Corona

Corona beer’s history starts in 1922 when Grupo Modelo formed and directed by Pablo Diez. In 1925 the first production run of Corona was bottled, within a decade it had become the best selling beer in Mexico. by 1979, the company was selling beer in the United States. By the mid 80’s Corona was a U.S sensation, typically among surfers and young college men. In 1985 Corona started exporting to New Zealand, Japan and Australia . Corona’s huge international success surprised everyone including Corona executives, who tried to avoid shortages of the product around the country.

Intended Audience

In all of the ads i have watched, people in their young twenties seem to be the target audience. Finding Corona ads was a task only youtube could help me with, which infers that younger people are being more targeted than any other audience. The ad shows excessively young, attractive people drinking corona in order to give them the feeling of fulfillment which is necessary to provide peace. Corona has a history of being popular in areas near the ocean, thus their slogan: “Find Your Beach”.

Active Ingredients

Corona Extra includes barley malt, rice and/or corn, hops, yeast, antioxidants (ascorbic acid), and propylene glycol alginate as a stabilizer. Ethanol is the part of alcohol that is intoxicating, which is likely the factor that contributes to addiction. Negative effects that can occurs due to alcohol include: memory loss, liver damage, Slurred speech, Drowsiness, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Upset stomach, Headaches, Breathing difficulties, Distorted vision and hearing, Impaired judgment, Decreased perception and coordination, Unconsciousness, Anemia (loss of red blood cells), Coma, Blackouts (memory lapses, where the drinker cannot remember events that occurred while under the influence). Meanwhile the ad gives no warning of ANY negative side effects.

Advertising Techniques

Visual imagery in this ad played a part to promote the products image. An example of this is when the environment changes in order to cater to both the people who love the heat and the people who love the cold, at the same time implying that no matter where you are, you’ll be as calm as a beach-side vacation if you sip on a Corona. This ad supports the idea that offering someone a beer is a great way to start a conversation with them.

Opinion

Taking in consideration the negative side effects as well as the social aspects of Corona and alcohol in general, drinking doesn’t seem like the best idea in terms of a long and healthy life, yet there is still millions of Americans that drink. Drinking alcohol can be severely detrimental, but at the same time, both the social aspect and relaxing feeling seems to lead people to think the “good” out-weighs the “bad”. So with all this in mind, I would recommend Corona to my friends and family, but caution them to drink responsibly.

References:

“Corona (Beer).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Oct. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_(beer).

“Watch Truth About Drugs Documentary Video & Learn About Substance Addiction. Get The Facts About Painkillers, Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth & Other Illegal Drugs.” Foundation for a Drug-Free World, www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol/short-term-long-term-effects.html.

“Corona USA.” Coronausa.com, www.coronausa.com/.

“Corona Beer – A Mexican Beer.” DonQuijote, www.donquijote.org/culture/mexico/society/food/corona-beer.