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You can almost picture the Anheuser-Busch InBev boardroom erupting in enthusiasm over the marketing agency pitch of their latest idea: describing the Pacific Islands of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), Guam, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and the Marshall Islands as a “Bud Nation.”
Yes, Big Beer's biggest multinational conglomerate is thinking bigger. For years, ballpark stadium owners all over the U.S. have been selling their property's naming rights to the highest bidder. Think Coors Field, Busch Stadium, and Miller Field. But that's beer advertising for maybe a couple of million or so people per year. Why not rename a country in their image instead? No--think even bigger. Why not rename a whole island chain of nations?Demographics on the Pacific Islands show a remarkably high youth population, with 20 out of 22 countries having median ages of below age 25.
So, while Anheuser-Busch InBev likely couldn’t get away with trying to rename the U.S. the 'United States of Bud,' the idea could work on a smaller scale, maybe in nations with lower socioeconomic status?
Not so fast. Two separate resolutions have been filed by the Directors of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (Resolution No. 49-BOD-07, CD1) and the nation of Palau (Senate Resolution No. 7-170) to request that Anheuser-Busch cease and desist from describing the Pacific Island nations as a "Bud Nation.”
According to both documents, Anheuser-Busch "did not consult with the appropriate authority for approval prior to the description of the aforementioned nations in a for-profit advertising campaign." No surprise there. Moreover, the documents state that “there are many who find this description derogatory and racist” and “an affront to its members.”
In the meantime, Anheuser-Busch InBev can actively pursue its transformation of the Pacific Islands into a Bud Nation. Photos below depict Bud Nation cans already on the ground and on sale within the island chain of nations.
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