Liquid Death Is Trolling Pepsi With Its Latest Giveaway Promotion

If you’re old enough to remember the “Drink Pepsi, Get Stuff” campaign of the mid-’90s — or the Netflix documentary it inspired — then you recall how much trouble the company got into over offering a fighter jet as the grand prize.

History repeats itself

Pepsi never thought anyone would be able to collect enough points to claim the aircraft, but it made two big mistakes.

When the infamous Super Bowl ad aired, the initial 700 million points needed for the jet was reduced to 7 million so it would look better on screen.

Pepsi also provided an option to buy points for 10 cents each, meaning John Leonard was able to spend just $700,000 to claim a jet worth tens of millions.

The company refused to make good on its promise, leaving a black eye on Pepsi’s reputation and making Leonard a folk hero. Now, a canned water company’s new campaign is referencing the incident.

“The Dehydrator”

Liquid Death, which has never taken itself very seriously, is embracing the Pepsi fiasco by promising to give away a jet of its own. But this isn’t a joke. The company says one lucky winner will get an Aero L-39 Albatross trainer jet.

• It’s known as “The Dehydrator” for making passengers lose control of their bladders.
• It was originally created as an attack jet by the Soviet nation of Czechoslovakia.
• It’s worth about $400,000 — considerably less than the one Pepsi promised.

But the giveaway is legit … and there’s a $250,000 cash prize if you don’t want a jet.

Liquid Death VP Andy Pearson said the company likes “to poke the bear,” adding: “I’ve heard that others have had the idea to give away a jet, but no one’s ever pulled it off. … It’s the biggest thing we’ve ever done.”

Chris Agee May 31st, 2024

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