Pfizer Encourages Viagra as a ‘Party Drug', Says AHF
AHF, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is one of the biggest bodies in the US that not only promotes the awareness about this deadly immune deficiency disease and other STDs but also provides direct treatment to the people of the affected nations of the world, particularly the nations of Africa , Central America , and Asia , including the people of America . AHF has complaints that in their recent print ad campaign for Viagra, Pfizer is promoting the recreational use of the drug by encouraging Viagra as a ‘party drug.'
Before the advent of Sunday's Super Bowl XL, the entire previous weekend, Pfizer had been running a full page colored advertisement where a handsome young man, slightly over the age of 40 knowingly grins at the camera with a tagline below that says. ”Be this Sunday's MVP.” As a part of its marketing strategy, Pfizer had earlier run such ads on the Thanks Giving Day and the New Year Eve's Day as well.
According to the President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Michael Weinstein, holidays make people to over-indulge, binge-drink and do excess of merriment; similarly occasions like New Year's Eve and Super Bowl XL, also make people to forget everything and just indulge a bit. Thus by advertising Viagra during holidays including New Year's Eve and Super Bowl XL, Pfizer is trying to encourage Viagra as a ‘party drug' and hence, is responsible for sending wrong message to the public. This kind of reckless and irresponsible marketing campaign would add to the cases of unsafe sex, multiplying cases of AIDS and other kinds of STDs.
In a letter written to FDA, AHF has requested to reevaluate the marketing campaign of Viagra, by Pfizer, in a newer perspective, as campaigns like these can be a serious blow to the efforts of alleviating AIDS and other similar kinds of STDs. A similar letter has been sent to the Pfizer DEO, Dr. Hank McKinnell, as well. Moreover, now, the AHF would be keeping a close watch on the Viagra ads going to be released on the forthcoming occasions of Valentine's Day and St. Patricks Daty.
Source: PRNewswire, February 7, 2006 |
