Does Corona Really Have Urine in It?

TL;DR

In the 1980s, a rumor spread that Corona beer contained urine, leading to a decrease in sales. Jack Daniel's took a polite approach when a book cover infringed on their trademark.

Transcript

just before you started did you know that I have a podcast it's called the brain food show it covers similar topics for what we do here and today I found out but in a longer form it's a more podcast II format I co-host it with David it's a lot of fun it runs for about an hour so it's a little bit more of a commitment than a video like this but if y... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤑 The rumor that Corona beer contained urine damaged its sales, leading the company to spend a significant amount of money on advertising and public appearances to deny the claim.
• 🍺 Historical references suggest that accusations of adding urine to beer have been around for centuries.
• 🥡 Jack Daniel's took a polite approach in their legal matters, prioritizing fairness and problem-solving rather than confrontation.
• 😤 Attorneys in the alcohol industry are often known for aggressive behavior, but there are exceptions like the legal team at Jack Daniel's.
• 🥺 Traditional trademarks are valuable assets, leading companies like Jack Daniel's to protect their brand with cease and desist actions when necessary.
• 🥺 A polite and reasonable approach in legal matters can often lead to more favorable outcomes.
• ™️ Companies like Corona and Jack Daniel's are proactive in managing their brand reputation and protecting their products from damaging rumors and trademark infringements.

Questions & Answers

Q: Where did the rumor that Corona beer contained urine originally come from?

The rumor was traced back to employees of a rival distributor called Loosen Sons Inc. who spread the idea in Reno, Nevada.

Q: How did Corona respond to the rumor?

Corona spent $500,000 on ads and their executives appeared on talk shows to deny the claim and assure the public that their beer did not contain urine.

Q: What did Jack Daniel's do when a book cover infringed on their trademark?

Instead of sending a typical cease and desist letter, Jack Daniel's attorney, Christy Sussman, politely asked the author to change the cover design and offered to contribute to the cost.

Q: How did Jack Daniel's senior trademark counsel describe their approach?

Jack Daniel's takes a case-by-case approach and uses polite letters as their first response, aiming to solve the problem faster and maintain a favorable relationship.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Corona beer became a hit in America in 1979, but in 1986, sales began to stall due to a rumor that the brewery allowed workers to pee in the beer.

• To counter the rumor, Corona spent $500,000 on ads and executives appeared on talk shows to deny the claim.

• Jack Daniel's took a polite approach when a book cover infringed on their trademark, offering to contribute to the cost of changing the design.