COLLEGE STUDENTS DRINK TO A NEW OCCASION: BEER GAMES

According to the New York Times young people think of more than just their computers. As a matter of fact, their new game of choice requires no thinking, only drinking. Called “Beer Pong,” it consists of trying to get a ping pong ball into a cup of beer. The loser has to guzzle a beer and the winner… well they get to guzzle beer as well. Championship Beer Pong games and tournaments are sponsored by beer pong table manufacturers, and are often sponsored by Beer Companies. There are also Beer Pong Leagues.

The Marketing crews are out in full force (hence the reason I bring it up). Urban Outfitters stocks a popular beer pong kit called Bombed and thousands of players are expected at the first World Series of Beer Pong. Anheuser-Busch, that makes Budweiser, also unveiled a beer game called Bud Pong. They are promoting Bud Pong tournaments and providing Bud Pong tables, balls and glasses to distributors in 47 markets, including college towns.

Miller is also hyping a drinking game called spin the bottle, and its distributors are promoting beer pong tournaments as well. Drinking games seem to be most popular among college students, according to a recent study, 50 percent to 80 percent play them.

Here is a marketing opportunity for many of you. HATS are part of college lore, and HATS (made specifically for this sport) might just be gold in your hand. I do not condone games that encourage young people to drink to excess, but let’s face it, if they’re going to these parties, let them have HATS to go with the occasion. You might want to contact the beer companies or the beer pong manufacturers to see about licensing irreverent and funky beer hats. Why not, stranger things have happened, the pet rock for one.