Dr Pepper Uses Ugly Can, Condescending Ads to Market Soda to Men

There’s Dr Pepper. There’s Diet Dr Pepper — which, as many have noted, tastes almost exactly like the original. Then there are the countless variations (Cherry Vanilla, sugar-sweetened Heritage Dr Pepper). And now, since there apparently aren’t enough beverage options for those who like their carbonated water to taste like 23 unidentified, proprietary flavors, the Dr Pepper Snapple Group has unveiled Dr Pepper 10, a ten-calorie soft drink that is supposed to serve as the male alternative to the hopelessly girlie Diet Dr Pepper.

So, besides the token “10 bold calories,” what makes Dr Pepper 10 a drink for dudes? Hey, maybe it’s the ad campaign that insists the beverage is “not for women” and the terribly designed, matte gray can. (Then again, perhaps the benefits of this aesthetic are as undetectable as a dog whistle to those of us who possess two X chromosomes. Could it be that a metallic can carries, for your average heterosexual male, the ghastly connotations of silver lamé-clad drag queens?) Over at the Dr Pepper 10 Facebook page, they’ve posted “10 Man’Ments” to police the behavior of macho men on Facebook, which apparently “has a way of making even the boldest guys act like gossiping schoolgirls.” We’ll post those ridiculous tips — which include the exhortation not to use the abbreviation “OMG” or “post furry animal videos” — after the jump, in case you didn’t want to go to the trouble of “liking” the page to get a good, bitter laugh. Guys, let us know how you feel about being condescended to in the comments!


[Image via Tao of Cake]

Dr Pepper’s 10 Man’Ments

1. Thou shalt not OMG. If it’s not exploding, it’s not exciting.

2. Thou shalt not pucker up. Kissy faces are never manly.

3. Thou shalt not post pics of your outfit. Unless it’s battle armor and you have a giant sword and/or small bazooka.

4. Thou shalt not post furry animal videos. Exceptions made for beasts fighting to the death and bears destroying idyllic picnic scenes.

5. Thou shalt not make a “man-gagement” album. That is all.

6. Thou shalt not share your horoscope. Daily.

7. Thou shalt not Instagram your lunch. Real men each lunch, not tweet it.

8. Thou shalt not untag unflattering pics. We know you were there.

9. Thou shalt not end a comment with a =).

10. Thou shalt not make a Facbeook profile for your pet, baby and/or imaginary friend.

[via USA Today]

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[...] FlavorWire takes issue with the can, which it outright calls “ugly” but we say looks like a football helmet for some reason. The brand’s Facebook page also puts the male message front and center. [...]

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My favorite soda too. Its a great taste and the company is simply poking fun. Women can ACTUALLY go out and buy it. Lighten up ladies and have some fun.

Pretty darn funny - why is this offensive? It's a joke, and a welcome departure from the politically correct.

I should be offended, according to some, but I am not. I find it funny. Since the "for men only" page on Facebook is really not for men only, that shows that it is a joke. Actually the joke seems to be more on men than women because it covers all the stereotypes of being "macho." People do need to lighten up as it seems to be all in jest and everyone is too serious these days about everything. We are going to end up living in a world where you are not allowed to laugh at anything and that would truly be offensive and sad.

I never dreamed dr.pepper would become like that. I have been drinking dr. Peeper for 25 years. Have loved your beverage and this is what you come up with now. Very disappointing

It is not that offensive. People need to lighten up. Most of the men on my facebook page and in my life think that the ad is hilarious. So, Dr. Pepper 10 is targeted towards men more...so what! Budweiser and Miller and Coors are marketed towards men more than women. Dr. Pepper is not sexist. They are just having fun with men in their market. I can imagine that they did some research on their product and found men need to be marketed to more. Real men would not be offended by this because they can take a joke and a little teasing.

follow on facebook "Boycott Dr. Pepper's Sexist Products" Glaore you are hilarious. I appreciate the number of men that understand how offensive this ad was and are not trying to justify it.

And if the motto had been: "Not for African Americans!" Oh, and targeting all things "woman" on an on-line shooting gallery? Sounds like a hate crime to me.

I always thought Dr. Pepper was a woman...like in the riddle? no? I'm holding out for Pepper, Esquire. The soda for lawyers and politicians...who can also be women.

Spot on ad. This man's wife thinks the ad is hilarious, and this man is about to hit the store to engage in 10 manly calories.

Ridiculous as they are for a soft drink campaign, most of those should be rules to live by for all genders.

You'd think someone with a PhD could come up with a better ad campaign

Trackbacks

  1. [...] FlavorWire takes issue with the can, which it outright calls “ugly” but we say looks like a football helmet for some reason. The brand’s Facebook page also puts the male message front and center. [...]

  2. [...] with further questions, comments or tips. By Jamie Feldmar in Food on October 10, …Dr Pepper Uses Ugly Can, Condescending Ads to Market Soda to MenFlavorwireall 309 news [...]

  3. [...] with further questions, comments or tips. By Jamie Feldmar in Food on October 10, …Dr Pepper Uses Ugly Can, Condescending Ads to Market Soda to MenFlavorwireall 311 news [...]

  4. [...] with further questions, comments or tips. By Jamie Feldmar in Food on October 10, …Dr Pepper Uses Ugly Can, Condescending Ads to Market Soda to MenFlavorwireall 320 news [...]

  5. [...] with further questions, comments or tips. By Jamie Feldmar in Food on October 10, …Dr Pepper Uses Ugly Can, Condescending Ads to Market Soda to MenFlavorwireall 327 news [...]

  6. [...] with further questions, comments or tips. By Jamie Feldmar in Food on October 10, …Dr Pepper Uses Ugly Can, Condescending Ads to Market Soda to MenFlavorwireall 346 news [...]

  7. [...] with further questions, comments or tips. By Jamie Feldmar in Food on October 10, …Dr Pepper Uses Ugly Can, Condescending Ads to Market Soda to MenFlavorwireall 351 news [...]

  8. [...] humor to be offensive. Loads of companies have found this out the hard way, including Groupon and Dr. Pepper, to name just a couple. If you’re going to try being edgy, you’d better be ready for the [...]

  9. [...] gosh, where to begin. This grating ad campaign has already caused a negative backlash that can be seen all across the Internet (link to different examples in each of those [...]