The coronavirus is turning Americans off of Corona beer.
A new survey shows that 38 per cent of beer drinkers is refusing to buy the popular Mexican pale lager in light of news reports about the global spread of the pathogen that shares the same name.
‘There is no question that Corona beer is suffering because of the coronavirus,’ said Ronn Torossian, the founder of 5WPR, the public relations firm which conducted the survey.
‘Could one imagine walking into a bar and saying, “Hey, can I have a Corona?” or “Pass me a Corona”,’ he said.
A new survey shows Americans are avoiding Corona beer in light of the news about the global spread of the coronavirus. The above image shows Corona beer bottles on a store shelf in Kiev, Ukraine, in September 2018
So far, more than 83,000 people in at least 53 countries have been infected with coronavirus. Of those who have been infected, a reported 2,800 have died – most of them in China. The above image shows a Korean man in Goyang, South Korea, being tested on Thursday
The 5WPR survey also found that just 4 per cent of those who say they usually drink Corona would stop.
The study did find, however, that 14 per cent of those said they would not order a Corona in public.
In addition, 16 per cent of beer-drinkers in the United States were confused about whether Corona beer is related to the virus.
A YouGov study found that Corona beer’s buzz score – a net score based on whether American adults have heard anything positive or negative about the brand – fell from a high of 75 at the start of the year to 51 as of late February.
Save for the name, there is no connection between the beer and the virus, which originated in China.
Corona beer’s parent company, however, says it has no plans to alter its marketing strategy in light of the news about the virus. Earlier this week, it was criticized for promoting its new hard seltzer product with the ad campaign titled: ‘Coming ashore soon’
According to the World Health Organization, viruses are named ‘based on their genetic structure to facilitate the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and medicines.’
The current pathogen which originated in Wuhan, China, was named by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.
On February 11, the ICTV announced that the virus would be officially referred to as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus because the pathogen is part of the coronaviridae family of vira.
So far, more than 83,000 people in at least 53 countries have been infected with coronavirus.
Of those who have been infected, a reported 2,800 have died – most of them in China.
In recent days, the number of new infections outside of China has outpaced those within the country. The rapid spread has sent global financial markets spiraling.
Corona beer’s parent company, however, says it has no plans to alter its marketing strategy in light of the news about the virus.
The choice of words got negative reactions on Twitter. One Twitter user remarked: ‘No one wants to hear from you right now, Corona.’
Another Twitter user tweeted: ‘Kinda bad timing for this ad?’
‘Unfortunate brand name moment,’ tweeted another Twitter user.
Another wrote: ‘Given what’s hitting the news right now, this seems in remarkably poor taste.’
Others on Twitter used humor to get their point across. One Twitter user posted a meme which showed a group of Heineken beers wearing a face mask as it stands away from a Corona
Another Twitter user quipped: ‘Corona ….great taste less virus.’
One Twitter user said Corona’s new ad campaign was akin to ‘Carnival cruise lines having a “titanic” special.’
Constellation Brands, the Fortune 500 company which owns Corona beer as well as other well-known brands like Modelo Especial beer and Robert Mondavi wine, told CNN that its customers ‘understand that there is no link between the virus and the our business.’
The company is being criticized on Twitter for rolling out a new hard seltzer under the Corona brand.
The marketing pitch for the beverage, which comes in four flavors, reads: ‘Coming ashore soon.’
The choice of words got negative reactions on Twitter.
One Twitter user remarked: ‘No one wants to hear from you right now, Corona.’
Another Twitter user tweeted: ‘Kinda bad timing for this ad?’
Another wrote: ‘Given what’s hitting the news right now, this seems in remarkably poor taste.’
‘Unfortunate brand name moment,’ tweeted another Twitter user.
Others on Twitter used humor to get their point across.
One Twitter user posted a meme which showed a group of Heineken beers wearing a face mask as it stands a few feet away from a Corona.
Another Twitter user quipped: ‘Corona ….great taste less virus.’
One Twitter user said Corona’s new ad campaign was akin to ‘Carnival cruise lines having a “titanic” special.’