Real people denied water at restaurants and hotels in thought-provoking PSA
For many of us, not having access to clean water for hours on end sounds like a nightmarish if not unfathomable scenario. But in the developing world, it’s a reality that millions of people face every day, and one that disproportionately affects women and children.
That’s why Stella Artois has been partnering with nonprofit Water.org for the past four years to help raise money for and spread awareness of the organization, whose mission is to bring safe water and sanitation to the world through access to small, affordable loans. This year, the Anheuser-Busch beer brand is using its Super Bowl spot to raise awareness of water.org's efforts and encourage people to donate by purchasing one of Stella’s signature chalices.
Ahead of this weekend’s game, Stella has released an online video to complement its Super Bowl spot that features real people around the world being denied water at restaurants, hotels, and cafes. Using the tried and true hidden camera technique, the brand was able to capture the stunned and sometimes angry responses of people were told they couldn’t have a glass of water or take a shower for up to six hours.
They're eventually confronted by Water.org co-founder and spokesperson Matt Damon via video, who explains what’s going on and details the severity of the water crisis in hopes of helping them put things in perspective. The goal of the video is to make the issue more relatable to people who’ve likely never had to go without water in their lives, something that Damon says isn't always easy to do since causes like cancer and AIDS hit much closer to home for people who live in the developed world.
“We’ve learned this issue is hard for many people to relate to because clean, accessible water is a constant presence in their lives,” Damon said in a statement. “Yet for millions around the world, this isn’t the case. Our challenge is to help create that understanding.”