April 9, 2008 Absolut vodka pulls ad showing California in Mexico
The distillers of Sweden’s Absolut vodka have withdrawn an advertisement run in Mexico that angered many U.S. citizens by idealizing an early 19th century map showing chunks of the United States as Mexican.
Although it was not shown in the United States, U.S. media outlets picked up on the ad, and after a barrage of complaints, Absolut’s maker said on Sunday the ad campaign would cease.
Defending the campaign last week, Absolut maker Vin & Spirit said the ad was created “with a Mexican sensibility” and was not meant for the U.S. market.
“In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues,” a spokeswoman wrote on Absolut’s Web site.
More about this topic here on reuters.com.
63 Responses to “Absolut vodka pulls ad showing California in Mexico”
I think it’s great that advertising do more than just selling products. Provoking reactions for instance.
If the ad were to be only in Mexico, why is it the words “In An Absolut World” are in English?
Vodka would probably make a great malatov cocktail… Hmmmm I wonder if that will be their next ad. Atzlan warriors running the streets of their new found home land with upended bottles of ABSOLUT in hand… Vive.. La Reconquista…
Vin & Spirit, Paula (the Absolut Moron), and any product to same need to leave the US market today. They are not wanted here. Hopefully US Americans will vote with their dollars and force the people out of our market.
We do not want an apology, we just want you to go away and stay away.
Vin & Spirit, Paula (the Absolut Moron), and any product related to same need to leave the US market today. They are not wanted here. Hopefully US Americans will vote with their dollars and force these people out of our market.
We do not want an apology, we just want you to go away and stay away.
Absolut-ly you are done here! The arrogant idiots from Europe doing what they do best: biting the hand of those they need in time of crisis: America!
Call us when Russia come calling… The answer will be: Absolut-ly go fly a kite!
You, morons!
F. Lavin
You people are 40% pure, triple-distilled morons. The reconquista is a joke, mostly a wet dream of college campus activists. It’s not some grand conspiracy.
English? In Mexico? Get over yourself, it has nothing to do with you being the target. You only show your ignorance. And before you go off on me keep in mind that I’m a white American.
Even if this ad were not light-hearted humor, but someone wishing that the Southwest was still part of Mexico, it’s still not offensive, it’s your own willingness to believe that the Mexicans are out to get you that leads you to assume the worst.
I don’t believe I said that I was the target, or that I believed the conspiracy or that I was ignorant. Nor do I “go off” on people, I’ll leave that to those that who do it best. I was just pointing out that if, say, I wanted to advertise in France, I’d use French, nothing more.
Let me ask: Would you run an ad when The Vikings controlled Sweden, France controlled England, or when the Moors controlled Spain as an Absolutely perfect world? How about when the Germans controlled most of Europe? Or, when Japan controlled much of China, the Philippines and Southeast Asia? Would those be insensitive?
Anyway, I have been changing my purchasing habits over
the years to support only those companies that I
believe operate in a socially responsible manner. As
such, I am letting you know that you lost a major
customer. I have been drinking Vodka most of my life
(I’m now 57 years old) and frequently purchased
Absolut, especially after your citron blend was
introduced.
Now, no more. Back to the good old Russian
brands….My wife and I decided to quit buying your
product due to your insensitivities.
Sincerely,
peter
Great Ad! Great vodka!!! Thank you Absolute for proving again how uneducated, degraded Americans are. This is history and has to be accepted. I personally will buy only Absolute vodka from now on!
I am from Russian and Russian vodka is bad compare to Absolut. There are some very good brands of Rusian vodka, that Americans, majority of whom never traveled anywhere, will never taste. Absolute ROCKS!!!!! Great kick to fat-bottomed Americans.
Americans are the most ignorant nation in the world. Hold on a second… they are not even a nation. They are hybrids, of white trash that came here, took over Indian land and proclaim themselves “civilized”. Too bad. You can stop buying Absolut, but it won’t stop big corporation from selling its product in US and making big profit. Just like Walmart, the true American phenomena. No matter how much you ignoring them, they make bigger and bigger profit.
I really find your ad about the boarder of Mexico and the United States insensitive, the boarder “is what it is.” Why do this to either of our nations, it only stirs up bad feelings at a time when we are trying to protect our boarders but still allow people to enter our country legally. I do not support companies that behave in an irresponsible manner, so I will not be buying your product any more. There are other good vodkas out there. I didn’t realize how much the people of Sweden disliked us, but now I do.
I predict that sales of Absolut will fall dramatically and permanently due to this ad. I for one will never buy Absolut and will badmouth it at every opportunity.
Many Americans are furious that the Absolut ad suggests that the Southwest of the US belongs to Mexico. They are furious because they do not want to give up territories that they currently have. Yet, many of these same Americans are first in line to advocate that China should give up Tibet and Taiwan from the motherland. I hope that these Americans can now appreciate how insulting it is for a country to be told by a foreigner that it should give up its territories, for whatever reason. For once, how does it feel to walk in someone else’s (China’s) shoes?
Pete,
Your history is missing some key elements. The People’s Republic of China (what people today refer to as “China”) is the result of a civil war. The communist party had taken over mainland China from the Republic of China. What remains of the ROC is Taiwan and some surrounding islands. The ROC has been recognized since 1912 ending China’s long history of imperial rule. It is the oldest surviving republic in East Asia.
Why does ppl keep on fighting for this? I mean, it’s just an ad! Stop complaining about if “In an Absolut World” should be in english or spanish… it’s in english because it’s the slogan!! you don’t hv to change the slogan every time you do a campaign in a different country.
Peter,
your comment:
“Let me ask: Would you run an ad when The Vikings controlled Sweden, France controlled England, or when the Moors controlled Spain as an Absolutely perfect world? How about when the Germans controlled most of Europe? Or, when Japan controlled much of China, the Philippines and Southeast Asia? Would those be insensitive?” is absurd!
The Moors, Germans, and Japanese were groups that invaded other countries and took their land through war and violence just like the US did to Mexico. In order for your comment to make any sence you would have to be talking about an ad that showed the US map as it is today (before we took the land from Mexico)and was being diercted as an FU to Mexico. I also hope that you realize that by describing it as such you likened the US to Nazi Germany and some of the other worst groups in history. Some patriot you are!
Poor white American- always BITCHING about something! Yes- believe it or not- over 1/2 of the U.S. WAS MEXICO. It’s as simple as that- a historic fact. Mexico at the time was a young and poor country all of only 28 years old when it gained independece from Spain then the U.S. instigated a war over Texas that the U.S. wanted to be a slave state which Mexico objected to. This provocation led to the U.S. “annexing” (STEALING/CONQUERING) not only Texas, but everything west of it to fulfil racist and religious fanatical ideology of “Manifest Destiny”. Much of the U.S. was not born, but conquered by force from a poor and young country forced to give up the land. Also- the U.S. (under “Democratic” President Polk) strongly considered stealing not only Mexico’s northern territory (which is now the “U.S.”), but wanted ALL OF MEXICO (google or Wiki “All of Mexico Movement”
The U.S. has existed and survived these past 2 1/2 centuries ONLY by genocide, stealing land, enslavement, and FREE/CHEAP labor- period. Whites and all other foreigners to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and all “American” countries got a lot of fucken nerve believing their own bullshit lies that they belong here as if this was their “Homeland”. If YOU don’t like it- YOU can go back and improve or make revolutions in YOUR European homelands.
p.s.- If the ad offends you sooooo much fine- don’t buy the fucken vodka. Quite bitching already WHITE BITCHES.
as an advertisement…it hit the target market perfectly. it wasn’t directly towards the US but it is not offending anyone…just stating the obvious….at one time mexico owned that land; not anymore. if you find that offensive, you really must relax. they’re selling alcohol to a country where tequilla comes from, of course they have to have an ingenious ad. LOVE IT.
White americans are those who complain the most. They complain about gas prices, they complain about traffic (though they created it themselves), they complain about taxes that are “too high”, they complain about other countries’ style of living, they complain about communists, socialists, big corporations and their profits (and they keep shopping at Walmart). The list is too long. Stop bitching and complaining and stop sticking your american nose into other people’s lives. it’s called freedom of speech and freedom of expression and any company as long as it does not proclaim war can do the ad that Absolut did. I am from Russia but I will not get pissed if they decide to run an ad for Japanese market showing Kuril and Sakhalin territories being part of Japan before WWII. it’s history, just deal with it. If you don’t like the ad, don’t look at it. i do and I put it into my collection of world’s best ads. And i do like Absolut as one of the finest vodkas, and by the way, company was bought out by another company from France, so it’s no longer Swedish. Back to freedom fries?
(Jean Says: we are trying to protect our boarders but still allow people to enter our country legally.)
How come the the very country of absolute, Sweden, welcomes more poeple from Iraq than your country, USA?
I hope you follow what was said in the congress Thursday,when they discussed the refugees from Iraq.
“Sweden really accept more refugees from Iraq than USA?!”
Peter, honestly the ad is a joke, FACE IT. All people do in the US is complain. But the truth is that it would be an absolut world the one of the ad. Wait weren’t the americans the one who invented free speech, or at least its in the freaking constitution. So let the ad be!!!
Only an American would think no one in Mexico speaks English. It is a fact that there are more bilingual people in Mexico than there are in the US. Stop complaining about everything you don’t like and get over yourselves. Stop being arrogant and let people be because if you continue to be like you are, everyone in the world is going to start hating you and then you will be asking for help to other countries (many people already hate Americans, they are not jealous). And, why is it that you white trash hate Mexicans so much? Is it because of the culture? or just because you think you are better shit than anyone else? The only reason Mexicans go to the US to get a job is because they don’t live in a freaking perfectly gay wonderland like you do, they also have a family and they are trying to support them. You shouldn’t be so proud of being an American, all your ancestors did was steal land and come at the end of the wars just to say you freed the countries. I think peace is better than war but to obtain that you need to stop the way you are, change a little, and open your eyes to the world. R Munoz is just right.
Did it ever occur to any of you MORONS that this map is historically accurate?? It’s just an old map. If it pisses you of, you are an ABSOLUTE IDIOT. No questions asked, you are just fucking stupid. Completely stupid.
SHAME ON YOU for being so damn STUPID.
Just like the Confederate Flag is a historical artifact (a flag for losers)this map represents old borders.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND???
Absolut’s reimaginative ad is clever, creative, and cutting-edge, as usual. Unfortunately, I’m just a moderate drinker, but I commit to buying , serving and requesting Absolut Vodka for martinis and gimlets forevermore. (I’m from Mobile, Alabama, writing from Savannah, Ga., and am of Irish, English and Italian heritage.) Every bromide applies to those who object (2nd or 3rd gen immigrants all, I suspect).
All of the denials about how this wasn’t meant to etc., etc., etc., shows either that they believe we are stupid enough to believe their denial or that they are too stupid to realize how awful that ad is. They should fire their ad people now. No more will anyone hear me say, “Absolut, straight up.”
It’s not an old map, it is not historically accurate, it’s claims are excessive, and something munoz and others miss is that a good piece of that land claimed by Mexico in 1830 was disputed BECAUSE it was sold to the U.S. by FRANCE whom Mexico LATER gain independence from, sold in a little thing called the Louisiana Purchase. The U.S. claim to the land was totally valid. The Texas Revolution was NOT the U.S. war with mexico, and would anyone, even Mexicans, want to see Mexican genocide (very recent and disturbing; the problem with Mexico is the gov’t) and corruption spread that far? IF that was the border, Sweden would likely have been divided by the Nazis and the Fins after they defeated the Soviets much as Poland was in 1939. In an Absolut world! What assholes!!! Much of the argument for this map/ad shows tremendous ignorance and arrogance, as clearly, by exceeding territory which could hold some historical claim, the intent was to inflame Mexican resentment and hatred against Americans, any Americans regardless of color.
To be historically accurate….
Needs Spanish or French BOOTS over Mexican backs! The Mexicans lost their identity to the Spanish, and to that language culture and religion they will cling while hating America, but whatever corruption the Spanish and the French had brought, the Mexicans have exceeded. They say we are racist, and yet Mexico slaughters entire villages of people, and gives “Spanish” Mexicans favored status while holding most of the people as cattle and slaves, while begging the U.S. for more money to keep the fat landowners fat and the people oppressed, longing to come to the racist U.S. and endure such hardships as we offer the criminals who come here illegally. No point in truth here people!!!
Haha, I will buy only Absolute from now on. Califonia and Texas did belong to Mexico about 200 years ago. That’s the fact. What’s this fuss all about? Americans often encourage the separatist to be independant in other countries? Why can’t you accept the simple truth as this. Good job, absolute .
This is an absolutely good time to let all the person who does not know the real history to learn the real history. Please do not be so irritated! US is proud of freedom. If it is the truth, it will not be changed no matter whoever says whatever!
Each person in instead of complaining for an ad which shows the truth must realize how people behave. People like to get more and more power that’s all. It is only an ad, but this ad show not only mexicans have suffered, the matter or fact is all the world is going to hell and who is guilty? everybody…..specially some people who are in politic
What Sir Loute said made a lot of sense. California and Texas were bought from Mexico after it was defeated in the war with us in 1848. Literally the deal was legal, but given the situation that Mexico was the defeated one, it’s hard to say if the contract was fair.
Grace Says:
What Sir Loute said made a lot of sense. California and Texas were bought from Mexico after it was defeated in the war with us in 1848. Literally the deal was legal, but given the situation that Mexico was the defeated one, it’s hard to say if the contract was fair.
—-very good justification! typical American style,haha, Chinese goverment should learn how to justify Tibetan issues.
Free Tibet! Free California!
Why should absolutads company say sorry to America? It was said America was a free speech country which ecouraged independence!!!
the White House killed millions of iraqis and the numbers are mounting, why don’t they just bomb the Swedish, simple as that
Go Americans, kill them!!!
How America can just take so lots land from Mexico? They need to be returned to Mexico or become independent.
This is not serious, just like some stupid people say Tibet does not belong to China! They are all ridiculous.
haaaah….
love this ad, fu**k off yanky!!!
free Texas !!!!!
I am not a Mexican, but I do support Mexican should recover their lands which has traditionally belonged to them.
Isn’t that true that Texas and New Mexico belong to Mexico?!
Free Texas, Free California, Free half of America!
I will rule you all.
Don’t worry, I will treat you just like Dorje Shugden
Free Texas!!! Free California!!!one111
US is smart ass
these text is for almost, almost all citizens of United States of America; i know there are exceptions and smart people in there.
yes! you read “citizens of United States of America”, i dont write: americans or citizens of America! you FIRST have to know (or Are you ignorants?) that you live in United States of America, not America, America is all the continent all right??? i think you understand that.
SECOND, please: investigate… you really find the REAL TRUE about the robbery long time ago of your government to my country MEXICO; yes MEXICO its a country, a country of Mexicans, not like USA which not have a culture (sorry, McDonalds is your culture, sorry) and the real habitants of USA are sons of i dont know French Mother / Irish Father, Canadian Mother/Italian Father, i dont know… im sure those people are the exceptions what i writing about.
Thats all!
atte: a real Mexican
PD: ah… for the stupid, (sorry, but i really believe he is stupid) who write about employment and plumbing; ask your mother or your wife how was the last plumbing service she recived! jeje… i dont know why your women look for us to… well, you know what im writing about!
Mexico is presently regaining by politics and pullulation what it lost in honorable combat. Absolut has arrayed its famously tacky bottles with the fifth column of liberal acquiescence in America’s balkanization and ultimate dismemberment. When and if America ever casts aside its drowsy indifference to its own history and culture and asserts itself in its own house once again, then Mexico -and Absolut- will learn a new respect for boundaries, be they of territory or of taste. A sobering prospect, no?
Even though this is just a market map of business, We still feel bad about the fact of seperation of their country. Think about Tibet and Taiwan, how would Chinese think about our media? Territory is a very special term in our minds, hunderds of years ago, 60 years ago, Americans died for it.
This is funny, I love the anti-American sentiment and the “supposed” facts about history. US pushed the war, stole the land, hybrid white trash, blah blah blah. The United States of America is the best country in the world and illegal immigration is proof of that.
For those uneducated - do your research before you post - you look ignorant and make most people laugh at your post! Cough Hidalgo… Cough Gadsden Purchase… Cough - be glad our army A. was kind enough to pay for the land after the war Mexico initiated by attacking our troops B. not wipe out the whole country since we marched into Mexico City and the government collapsed - C. be glad our current government doesn’t consider the attack on our sovereign land as an attack on the nation! Simple history folks!
alfredo - How about we send your “country” Mexico an invoice for all of our expense to keep your country men from the U.S.?
You are the ignorant one, and the education system in Mexico is proof of that. Why else would Mexicans cross the border to attend school in the U.S.?
Exactly - better education, better life, etc. Nothing wrong with any of this - the U.S. welcomes anyone that comes here legally and contributes to this great society!
Hey Everyone! I just realized this - how about Mexico declare war against the U.S. and take back what we “stole” - or better yet - how about even if they can accomplish a victory - we will still charge them for the value of the land!
P.S. - Every Mexican living in TX, CA, NM and AZ were granted their U.S. citizenship!
Man! How do I get through to these kids!!!!
this ius the right borders
free mexico nowwwwwwwwww
Do you remember how many Mexicans you Americans have kill to get there land millions I guess is about time to apologies and give them back there land
I’m not an American. I’m not going to tell you American-hating losers what I am because it’s none of your business. All of you non-Americans badmouthing the Americans are showing the world how jealous you are of the Americans. The Americans have everything that you non-Americans want. In fact, you’re using two of their inventions right now – the computer and the internet. God bless America for the world is a better place because of you!
To the ignorant who said this map refers to the Louisiana purchased, which Napoleon sold to the US(Europa was way more important), please see the map before you speak you’see Louisiana is not there. To the other fool who said that US education was better that education in Mexico, let met tell you one thing, are you good in calculus? jaja, I don’t think so. You US people don’t take calculus in high school, n’ if you do, it’s only like a AP class, while in Mexico, it is a mandatory class to every one. I went to public school both in Mexico n’ in the US, n’ I can tell that I usually went to sleep in the US because at high school you see the things Mexicans see in what would be middle school in the US. And about what you said immigrants, they dont come to study, they come to work, and there are the base of your economy, so respect them. Do you really think your government cannot stop them from coming? It just that it dont want to do so, because they know what would happen then. And for those think this ad is an insult, how do you think the rest of the REAL Americans(those who live in America(not the US, that by the way is not America, America is a continent, you country is the UNITED STATES)) would feel about the Manifest Destiny?. And for those who said you would only think products who support the US or are “socially responsibles”, why do you suport you country then? the US had do a lot of bullshit all over the world, like Cuba, Mexico, Rep. Dominicana, Chile, or the Middle East; you just don’t know it because your country has a lot of control over the media, n’ you think what they want, that is why is so hard to you to think in an analytic way. Why do you think the world hate you? why do you think Osama attack you? do you really think is because you “represent” freedom in the world? JAJA, like Lyndon LaRouche said, people in the US had to know the have the right to USE ther brains. Anonimus russian, I love you bro’, you know yhe truth.
Ups, I forgot something.
Absolute, wonderful ad.I will definite buy your vodka, even when I don’t drink!!! (that doesn’t mean I would drink it)
Absolute, could you make a bottle with the ad printed to it? PLEASE. That way I would buy two.
By the way, this campaign was designed by a Mexican marketing agency, and meant to be only for Mexicans.
My first wife was Swedish now I understand her stupidty. Are all Swedes dumber than a box of rocks?
W. American, I find it hilarious that you feel the need to let us all know you are a white american. Clearly you feel threatened in some way. This ad is offensive to so many people. I am Native American! But I think an Abslut Ad (made for the Native’s on the reservation) showing an absolute world where Native American’s Owned the North Eastern part of America would also be offensive. It just goes to show you how ignorant the European’s are for thinking that these “Mexicans who are out to get us” would want to buy a product because it depicts them doing just that and conquering the land we fought for. I think you need to seriously go back to school… MORON.
Oh yeah and Scott… who went on a real verbal slaying, you need to seriously ease up. Ofcourse it’s an old map, but it’s being used in a negative way for the sale of vodka. I sure don’t want Vodka marketed to only white Americans with the confederate flag printed on it saying “in an Absolut world”. That would realy offend a lot of mexicans and Indians. You have to look at the whole picture and both sides, before you go calling people names. It’s angry, people like you who see one part of the big picture and then spew hate that got us like this in the first place. Everyone here needs to watch the tv epic “Into The West” by Steven Speilberg and I think that will help people find more understanding for all Whites, Blacks, Native’s and Hispanics.
ALL PROPERTY IS THEFT, NEIL. -R(P)ick
YOU WILL HAVE ONLY THOSE THINGS YOU ARE WILLING TO FIGHT AND PERHAPS DIE FOR. Lets get it on.
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“In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues,” a spokeswoman wrote on Absolut’s Web site.
And yet, it ABSOLUTly did.