http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,200259,00.html?
Sexy beer promo in heartland draws flak
Beer company says planned games are in spirit of Songkran, but one Thai scoffs at reason
By Elysa Chen
April 28, 2009
TAKING AIM: The four Thai women (from above), Miss Saranya Sriphoet, Miss Sureerat Sribaan, Miss Rojana Luanmueang and Miss Pawita Preecha, will visit 13 coffee shops from tomorrow. PICTURES: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
THESE babes want to get wet and wild in the heartland.
Four Thai hotties are inviting Singapore beer drinkers to play games, including some cheeky ones.
One proposed game involves participants shooting water from water pistols into a cup which will be held between the women's thighs.
From tomorrow to Saturday, the women will be visiting 13 coffee shops to play games with patrons to promote Chang beer, reported Shin Min Daily News.
The women, who are in their 20s, will be clad in hot pants, tank tops and boots for their coffee shop appearances.
However, they will not drink with customers.
Hard to swallow
But will such a promotion go down well with Singaporeans in the heartland?
School clerk Ong Chui Tay, 40, a mother of three, told The New Paper: 'I definitely disapprove of this kind of promotion.'
On Thursday, the women will make an appearance at the S-11 coffee shop at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, near where Madam Ong lives.
She added: 'What would my children think when they see drinkers playing these suggestive games? I wish they would not hold the promotion at the coffee shop near my place.'
Miss Pamela Seet, 24, a human resources executive felt that such a promotion was 'demeaning' to the women.
She said: 'It's really cheap and tasteless, but I guess the branding and promotions team has decided that this marketing strategy works for the particular demographic that they want to appeal to.'
Mr K M Chiang, 30, who is unemployed, felt that the publicity stunt was 'stupid'.
He said: 'Having men shoot water from water guns onto the girls' legs... what kind of publicity is that? It's ridiculous. How does that promote drinking beer?
'There are many other ways to promote beer, why do they have to choose such a method of publicity?'
A spokesman for Chang Beer told Shin Min Daily News that the game was not to focus on the women's sex appeal. Instead, they wanted to bring the spirit of the Songkran Festival, celebrated during the Thai New Year, to Singapore.
During the festival, which is celebrated in April, people traditionally splash water at one another.
However, that reason cut no ice with cabby Thomas Woo, 59, who felt that it was an 'unconvincing excuse'.
Speaking in Mandarin, Mr Woo said: 'I'm more conservative. That's why I think that no matter what they say, it is still a little too explicit.
'If they wanted to celebrate the Songkran Festival, they could choose a less sensitive area for people to shoot at, or a less suggestive game.'
Miss Somsri Duang Duean, 34, a Thai stall assistant at a coffee shop here, was also displeased when she heard of the promotion.
She said: 'I think it's okay for Thais to come to Singapore to do decent work, but I don't like it when I hear about such activities.
'Even if it means better business for my stall, I don't want such promotions at the coffee shop where I work.
'Shooting water from pistols into cups which are held between women's legs is not the way we celebrate the Songkran Festival back home.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER PROMOTIONS
Bikini babes and deities
Bikini Beer Girls
In a Tiger Beer promotion in 2002, models had to sport tiger-print bikinis, sexy tattoos and colourful wigs.
Fortune God
In 2005, Tiger Beer also hired people to dress as the God of Fortune to add to the festivities during Chinese New Year. The God of Fortune could be spotted at a Tiger Beer booth at the junction of Trengganu Street and Smith street, from 7 to 11pm that year.
Sexy beer promo in heartland draws flak
Beer company says planned games are in spirit of Songkran, but one Thai scoffs at reason
By Elysa Chen
April 28, 2009
TAKING AIM: The four Thai women (from above), Miss Saranya Sriphoet, Miss Sureerat Sribaan, Miss Rojana Luanmueang and Miss Pawita Preecha, will visit 13 coffee shops from tomorrow. PICTURES: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
THESE babes want to get wet and wild in the heartland.
Four Thai hotties are inviting Singapore beer drinkers to play games, including some cheeky ones.
One proposed game involves participants shooting water from water pistols into a cup which will be held between the women's thighs.
From tomorrow to Saturday, the women will be visiting 13 coffee shops to play games with patrons to promote Chang beer, reported Shin Min Daily News.
The women, who are in their 20s, will be clad in hot pants, tank tops and boots for their coffee shop appearances.
However, they will not drink with customers.
Hard to swallow
But will such a promotion go down well with Singaporeans in the heartland?
School clerk Ong Chui Tay, 40, a mother of three, told The New Paper: 'I definitely disapprove of this kind of promotion.'
On Thursday, the women will make an appearance at the S-11 coffee shop at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, near where Madam Ong lives.
She added: 'What would my children think when they see drinkers playing these suggestive games? I wish they would not hold the promotion at the coffee shop near my place.'
Miss Pamela Seet, 24, a human resources executive felt that such a promotion was 'demeaning' to the women.
She said: 'It's really cheap and tasteless, but I guess the branding and promotions team has decided that this marketing strategy works for the particular demographic that they want to appeal to.'
Mr K M Chiang, 30, who is unemployed, felt that the publicity stunt was 'stupid'.
He said: 'Having men shoot water from water guns onto the girls' legs... what kind of publicity is that? It's ridiculous. How does that promote drinking beer?
'There are many other ways to promote beer, why do they have to choose such a method of publicity?'
A spokesman for Chang Beer told Shin Min Daily News that the game was not to focus on the women's sex appeal. Instead, they wanted to bring the spirit of the Songkran Festival, celebrated during the Thai New Year, to Singapore.
During the festival, which is celebrated in April, people traditionally splash water at one another.
However, that reason cut no ice with cabby Thomas Woo, 59, who felt that it was an 'unconvincing excuse'.
Speaking in Mandarin, Mr Woo said: 'I'm more conservative. That's why I think that no matter what they say, it is still a little too explicit.
'If they wanted to celebrate the Songkran Festival, they could choose a less sensitive area for people to shoot at, or a less suggestive game.'
Miss Somsri Duang Duean, 34, a Thai stall assistant at a coffee shop here, was also displeased when she heard of the promotion.
She said: 'I think it's okay for Thais to come to Singapore to do decent work, but I don't like it when I hear about such activities.
'Even if it means better business for my stall, I don't want such promotions at the coffee shop where I work.
'Shooting water from pistols into cups which are held between women's legs is not the way we celebrate the Songkran Festival back home.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER PROMOTIONS
Bikini babes and deities
Bikini Beer Girls
In a Tiger Beer promotion in 2002, models had to sport tiger-print bikinis, sexy tattoos and colourful wigs.
Fortune God
In 2005, Tiger Beer also hired people to dress as the God of Fortune to add to the festivities during Chinese New Year. The God of Fortune could be spotted at a Tiger Beer booth at the junction of Trengganu Street and Smith street, from 7 to 11pm that year.
