Ritas says you don’t have to apologize for who you bring to Thanksgiving dinner
Bringing a new partner to meet the family is always an uncomfortable moment, but bringing them to Thanksgiving dinner – a table usually rife with drama – bumps up the awkward three-fold.
Ritas Thanksgiving features tales of bringing home significant others
Anheuser-Busch’s flavored beverage brand, Ritas, is having real people tell tales of those family-confronting moments in all their inelegant, anxious glory in time for turkey day.
A survey the brand did with Censuswide found that 70% of respondents aged 25‐34 felt nervous about bringing a significant other home to meet the family, with 40% feeling nervous on more than one occasion.
But Ritas believes people should #NeverApologize for who they are or who they bring to the Thanksgiving table.
So, to celebrate the seasonal return of its Cran-Ber-Rita, the brand is offering couples a boost: Ritas will cover the cost of a ticket to fly a person’s significant other home for family dinner. Plus, Ritas will throw in a case of the cranberry-flavored drink.
To get people to participate in its social #NeverApologize sweepstakes, it posted a video of three people who talk about their Thanksgiving drama. One woman explains how she brought her very relaxed new beau to her high-strung New Jersey family.
Another woman describes how she brought her significantly older “manfriend” to meet mom, grandma and the rest of the family in what was her first relationship. A man tells of how he had been engaged to a woman but now was introducing his boyfriend to his family, essentially coming out at Thanksgiving dinner.
All participants seem happy with the outcomes, no matter the results of their family baggage.
“Whether it’s a conversation, a drink, or a person, you should never apologize for what you bring to the table,” said Chelsea Phillips, vice-president of Beyond Beer Brands at Anheuser Busch. “Ritas believes in this wholeheartedly, so we are removing travel as a barrier so our fans can take that leap and celebrate who they love with their family.”
The brand also teamed up with New York City-based relationship expert Susan Winter to advise couples through this time of heightened nerves.
“The holidays are the time we get together with those closest to our hearts. Why not magnify the joy by introducing your significant other to your family on this special occasion,” said Winter. “While the first introduction may seem scary and uncertain, the benefits far outweigh any temporary fears. Trust that your family will see the reasons why you love your mate and join in this celebration with you.”
To participate in the sweepstakes, the brand encourages people to visit the @Ritas Instagram page and tell the world what they will #NeverApologize for loving about their significant others.
