Snoop Dogg has signed on to be the Spokesman for Colt 45’s new alcoholic drink called “Blast.” “Blast” is an alcoholic soda with flavors such as strawberry lemonade, blueberry pomegranate, raspberry watermelon, and grape. Colt 45 says that “Blast is intended for a broader group of drinkers, including women,” but if you take a look at the picture below its clear who this drink is being marketed to.
These colorful bottles will definitely catch the attention of your children and if not Snoop’s endorsement will. As I think about Snoop and his new job as Spokesperson of this new Colt 45 drink I’m not suprised that this generation’s Billy Dee has decided to take on this job. Ever since Snoop hit the entertainment scene he’s not only promoted drugs and alcohol in his music, but he has even taken it a step further by using his celebrity status to help these businesses successfully market to the African-American community. In my book that is a sell out! Let me give you some information that could be useful.
Just like the tobacco companies that you see so many people protesting, alcohol producers are just as guilty of irresponsible marketing. The type of marketing that targets underage youth, heavy drinkers, and communities of color. Check out these statistics!
According to U.S Department of Health and Human Services Alcohol advertisers spent $990 million (22% more) for TV ads in 2002 and placed 39% more alcohol ads on TV than in 2001.3
According to a 1998 advertising agency study, youths six to 17 years of age identified Budweiser’s cartoon ads as their favorite, more popular than any ads for Pepsi, Barbie, Snickers, or Nike.5
A 1996 survey of children ages nine to 11 found that children were more familiar with Budweiser’s television frogs than with Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, or Smokey Bear.6
“Its better to build a child than to repair an adult.” Alcohol companies like Colt 45 are interested in developing long-term constumers and in order to do that they market to our children. But what we don’t talk about is that according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Alcohol is the leading cause of death among youth. It contributes substantially to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems.
Here are some more frightening statistics:
- Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both middle school and high school. By young adulthood, early alcohol use was associated with employment problems, other substance abuse, and criminal and other violent behavior.4
- Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin drinking at 21.5
- More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year—about 4.65 a day—as a result of alcohol-related injuries.6
In other words Snoop Dog is assisting with the killing of our community. From Gin and Juice, to St. Ides and now with Colt 45 this father who I’m sure protects his own children from these images is helping to mislead ours. Its sad that the people who destroy the black community more than anyone usually looks like us.
basheerjones.wordpress.com 
I think we should stop holdin these celebrities accountable for pandemics in our communtiy. Thats.the business.that snoop dog agreed to be in. I believe tht we.as.african americans need to expose our children.to African Americans who they can relate too. Ex.Basheer Jones! Of course snoop dogg endorsement will help boost sales but hey its business. If this generation was being raised with a strong foundation on morals and values this flavored drink “blasted” would be least of our problems. It starts in the home. So in conclusion I believe that parents blaming snoop dogg and other rappers for children bad behavior is a cop out!