Free CocaCola in pub

zell12 · 02-12-2018 10:42am #1

Get a free Coke drink in selected pubs this December.
Alternatively request your Free Drinks Vouchers from a member of bar or waiting staff when you arrive at one of the participating venues.
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893bet · 02-12-2018 11:08am

Disappointing amount of venues!

Cockadoodledoo · 02-12-2018 11:16am

893bet wrote: »

Disappointing amount of venues!

That’s actually shocking!

antodeco · 02-12-2018 12:25pm

I might go have a few pints and then head to one of the 4 (!!) Venues in Dublin and get my coke.

wirelessdude01 · 02-12-2018 12:38pm

That is just pathetic.

martyoo · 02-12-2018 12:41pm

Well that was poorly executed.

Cockadoodledoo · 02-12-2018 12:46pm

antodeco wrote: »

I might go have a few pints and then head to one of the 4 (!!) Venues in Dublin and get my coke.

At least you don’t have to travel half way across the country like some of us poor souls outside of Dublin

It’s a good idea but you would think that after 14 years it would be really after taking off.

Apt8 · 02-12-2018 12:54pm

You'd want to be locked anyway to even think about going into some of those places!

NSAman · 02-12-2018 12:58pm

That is just a pathetic promotion.

Who ever the marketing person is should be fired.

Good for all those that ARE participating I hope it does work for them.

okidoki987 · 02-12-2018 12:58pm

4 bars in Dublin!

How to make a dogs dinner of a good offer.

CH3OH · 02-12-2018 1:06pm

Coca Cola should be embarrassed at what has to be the worst marketing campaign ever
Not even every county represented

Skerries · 02-12-2018 1:07pm

4 bars and they spelled The Watermill wrong

Zaph · 02-12-2018 1:13pm

I'm not sure why people are slagging off Coca Cola, surely it's the greedy publicans who are at fault? Coca Cola can't force a pub to join the promotion, but I'd guess that many publicans don't want to get involved with something that a) involves giving away something for nothing, even if they will be reimbursed for it; and b) potentially reduces the number of customers buying alcohol, especially at this time of the year. The concept of social responsibility probably has never occurred to most of them. The ironic thing is that they'd probably sell more alcohol if a group knew they had a guaranteed safe lift home as this might persuade them to stay for an extra drink or two.

mikeym · 02-12-2018 1:15pm

A pint of coke costs more than a pint of beer.

Thanks to the government and their sugar tax.

More should be done to give recognition to designated drivers.

And the pubs make money off the empty bottles.

dan1895 · 02-12-2018 1:16pm

Zaph wrote: »

I'm not sure why people are slagging off Coca Cola, surely it's the greedy publicans who are at fault? Coca Cola can't force a pub to join the promotion, but I'd guess that many publicans don't want to get involved with something that a) involves giving away something for nothing, even if they will be reimbursed for it; and b) potentially reduces the number of customers buying alcohol, especially at this time of the year. The concept of social responsibility probably has never occurred to most of them. The ironic thing is that they'd probably sell more alcohol if a group knew they had a guaranteed safe lift home as this might persuade them to stay for an extra drink or two.

Must be the fault of people drinking at home and off licences somehow.

alane20 · 02-12-2018 1:19pm

A bit off topic but i was in 3arena last night, it was my turn for designated driver, i think it was 4.10 for a bottle of coke, dirty robbing ****es,

bazz26 · 02-12-2018 1:35pm

Plenty of margin in selling soft drinks in pubs, probably more than in booze. So I can see why publicans and CocaCola wouldn't be enthusiastic about pushing this promotion more nationwide.

Cockadoodledoo · 02-12-2018 1:37pm

bazz26 wrote: »

Plenty of margin in selling soft drinks in pubs, probably more than in booze. So I can see why publicans and CocaCola wouldn't be enthusiastic about pushing this promotion more nationwide.

But it’s Coca Cola’s concept.... why wouldn’t they want to push it to increase advertisement?

Snotty · 02-12-2018 1:41pm

We used to run this in a hotel I worked in, it was rural and just run by ourselves. Same people always took advantage of it and in the end the only people using the vouchers were getting the soft drink as a mixer for someone else, we stopped it then. Brought in a free taxi instead.

02-12-2018 1:42pm

Wonder will Heineken do something similar for Heineken 0%, now that would work

ted1 · 02-12-2018 1:46pm

okidoki987 wrote: »

4 bars in Dublin!
How to make a dogs dinner of a good offer.

3 bars and 1 hotel

ted1 · 02-12-2018 1:47pm

Snotty wrote: »

We used to run this in a hotel I worked in, it was rural and just run by ourselves. Same people always took advantage of it and in the end the only people using the vouchers were getting the soft drink as a mixer for someone else, we stopped it then. Brought in a free taxi instead.

I’m assuming the hotel got the drink free from coke.

bazz26 · 02-12-2018 1:55pm

Cockadoodledoo wrote: »

But it’s Coca Cola’s concept.... why wouldn’t they want to push it to increase advertisement?

Coca Cola hardly need to increase advertisement of giving away stuff for free, they are probably one of the most recognised brands on the planet. Why have a hard push to give it away when they can sell it anyway? This is probably more favourable to certain pubs whose trade is down because of drink driving laws. Look at the participation map, towns and cities where public transport is available outside the door are almost non existent. This is a marketing exercise more for the publicans than Coca Cola, to get people into pubs spending money on booze, giving a designated driver a free soft drink is an attempt at bringing their friends to the pub that may have stayed at home rather than risk drink driving.

Santa Claus · 02-12-2018 1:56pm

Zaph wrote: »

I'm not sure why people are slagging off Coca Cola, surely it's the greedy publicans who are at fault? Coca Cola can't force a pub to join the promotion, but I'd guess that many publicans don't want to get involved with something that a) involves giving away something for nothing, even if they will be reimbursed for it; and b) potentially reduces the number of customers buying alcohol, especially at this time of the year. The concept of social responsibility probably has never occurred to most of them. The ironic thing is that they'd probably sell more alcohol if a group knew they had a guaranteed safe lift home as this might persuade them to stay for an extra drink or two.

Well said Zaph.
Publicans simply won’t join the coke deal because if they sell a coke they paid about 40c and retail it for about €2. If they take part in this offer then Coke replace the coke they’ve given out free with another bottle of coke and so they lose their €1.60 margin.

Incredibly shortsighted when you think how many extra drinkers would accompany the person getting the free soft drink!

Del2005 · 02-12-2018 2:06pm

Cockadoodledoo wrote: »

But it’s Coca Cola’s concept.... why wouldn’t they want to push it to increase advertisement?

Coke don't make as much profit as the publican from coke. A pint of coke costs more than a pint of beer and there's less taxes on soda so the coke makes more profit for the publican.

Don't know why this is a promotion. Anytime we are out drinking and someone is driving they don't put their hand in their pocket, it's the least the drinkers can do.

MrMusician18 · 02-12-2018 2:07pm

mikeym wrote: »

A pint of coke costs more than a pint of beer.

Thanks to the government and their sugar tax.

More should be done to give recognition to designated drivers.

And the pubs make money off the empty bottles.

Well that's simply not true. Soft drinks have long been more expensive in bars than beer, well before a sugar tax was dreamed up.

martingriff · 02-12-2018 2:13pm

mikeym wrote: »

A pint of coke costs more than a pint of beer.

Thanks to the government and their sugar tax.

More should be done to give recognition to designated drivers.

And the pubs make money off the empty bottles.

A mineral cost more before the sugar tax so not the governments fault this time

Snotty · 02-12-2018 2:29pm

ted1 wrote: »

I’m assuming the hotel got the drink free from coke.

No, it wasn't a coke promotion, we just did it ourselves to get more people in, a bottle of coke was 40c (5-6 years ago), wasn't any large cost.

McMurphy · 02-12-2018 3:01pm

mikeym wrote: »

A pint of coke costs more than a pint of beer.

Thanks to the government and their sugar tax.

More should be done to give recognition to designated drivers.

And the pubs make money off the empty bottles.

A pint of coke cost more than a pint of beer looooong before any govt levy on sugar tbh.

And the sad thing is, apparently the publicans get all their little Coca-Cola glass bottle mixers free from the brewery companies.

Nice little earner if true.

Mountjoy Mugger · 02-12-2018 3:04pm

Start a rumor on t'internet. Yeah!

893bet · 02-12-2018 3:11pm

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

A pint of coke cost more than a pint of beer looooong before any govt levy on sugar tbh.

And the sad thing is, apparently the publicans get all their little Coca-Cola glass bottle mixers free from the brewery companies.

Nice little earner if true.

Not true though.

DesperateDan · 02-12-2018 3:28pm

Quite the distance you have to travel if you're in Cork

zell12 · 02-12-2018 3:33pm

There are five locations in Cork
Desist from floccinaucinihilipilification

ted1 · 02-12-2018 4:43pm

bazz26 wrote: »

Coca Cola hardly need to increase advertisement of giving away stuff for free, they are probably one of the most recognised brands on the planet. Why have a hard push to give it away when they can sell it anyway? This is probably more favourable to certain pubs whose trade is down because of drink driving laws. Look at the participation map, towns and cities where public transport is available outside the door are almost non existent. This is a marketing exercise more for the publicans than Coca Cola, to get people into pubs spending money on booze, giving a designated driver a free soft drink is an attempt at bringing their friends to the pub that may have stayed at home rather than risk drink driving.

I’m sure coke would find this true their CSR fund assuming they have one.

ShooterSF · 02-12-2018 7:18pm

Not surprised by the low take up on this by bars. Pre-internet being a popular thing the bars I worked in were happy to take the few free cases and then never offer the promotion. Probably told now their name was going on a website.
Heck the bar I work in (in a county totally unrepresented on the site) has a car park where cars are clamped if left over night. So if you pop in for some food and a drink but end up having two or three you have the option of driving over the limit, a 120 euro fee the next day, or finding some other way to get your car home.

alan4cult · 02-12-2018 7:59pm

Where is County Offlay?

Greentree_uk · 02-12-2018 9:07pm

pubs should be shamed

odyssey06 · 02-12-2018 9:12pm

Seems like for Irish pubs every day is like Moe's on St Patricks Day:

tedpan · 02-12-2018 9:20pm

You have a few options if you visit Derry / Londonderry

mikeym · 02-12-2018 9:36pm

The thread title is misleading.

People are thinking they are getting free Coca Cola for the night when its aimed at designated drivers.

Maybe thats why pubs are reluctant to give out free bottles.

Its not a bargain for everyone.

Wexy86 · 02-12-2018 9:40pm

My families pub has done this for the last decade, this was the first year the coke rep didn’t mention it or try push it. Normally if you order over a certain amount of stock for Christmas coke throw in x free crates, never in all the years has the take up rate been more than what you were given in addition to the order so its never cost the publican any money to do it. We’re just doing own own designated driver mineral promotion this year without coke leading, ruralish pub so wouldn’t get people taking the piss for mixers but can see how it could happen in towns and cities

Thegalwayman · 02-12-2018 10:50pm

I'd be too embarrassed to use this when ordering with a pint for myself. Prefer to just get ripped off by the 3euro for a coke

mrcheez · 03-12-2018 12:08am

Skerries wrote: »

4 bars and they spelled The Watermill wrong

nah it's what you say when you ask for the drink...

"Water.... I'll (get my coat)"

Adyx · 03-12-2018 3:04am

Zaph wrote: »

I'm not sure why people are slagging off Coca Cola, surely it's the greedy publicans who are at fault? Coca Cola can't force a pub to join the promotion, but I'd guess that many publicans don't want to get involved with something that a) involves giving away something for nothing, even if they will be reimbursed for it; and b) potentially reduces the number of customers buying alcohol, especially at this time of the year. The concept of social responsibility probably has never occurred to most of them. The ironic thing is that they'd probably sell more alcohol if a group knew they had a guaranteed safe lift home as this might persuade them to stay for an extra drink or two.

It's always the greedy publicans fault...

Strange however, that Coca Cola haven't even mentioned anything about this promotion to us. What I don't understand from your post is why a group can't organise their own safe lift home without this promotion? Maybe your guess is a load of crap?

heffoo · 03-12-2018 12:22pm

Santa Claus wrote: »

Well said Zaph.
Publicans simply won’t join the coke deal because if they sell a coke they paid about 40c and retail it for about €2. If they take part in this offer then Coke replace the coke they’ve given out free with another bottle of coke and so they lose their €1.60 margin.

Incredibly shortsighted when you think how many extra drinkers would accompany the person getting the free soft drink!

take into account 23% of every including soft drinks goes to the government on vat! So it’s far from €1.60 profit to be fair

rubadub · 03-12-2018 2:59pm

heffoo wrote: »

So it’s far from €1.60 profit to be fair

It would be very rare to see it for 2euro a bottle though. It is not just VAT anymore, there is the sugar levy/tax thing too.

alane20 wrote: »

A bit off topic but i was in 3arena last night, it was my turn for designated driver, i think it was 4.10 for a bottle of coke, dirty robbing ****es,

4.10 in 200ml bottles works out 11.64 a pint. Or at least 3 bottles to fill a pint glass, I hate this idea that 2 bottles and a rake of watering down ice is "a pint".

If I owned a pub it would be cans of coke, or a cheaper version poured from a 2L bottle, maybe still get a 200ml incase some freak wants it, but charge accordingly, likely more than the can. Might even get some own brand stuff in. Cans are 37.5cent in tesco at the moment in multipacks. These likely state "from a mulitpack not for resale individually" on them. This has no legal bearing at all. So I would stock a few legit retail singular cans too and price them accordingly, so if I do get some whinger I can give them the expensive option that they insist upon.

errlloyd · 03-12-2018 4:38pm

When I was 17 I went to a pub somewhere in town with a few mates, it might have been the Portobello, but I can't remember. I was a very sheltered kid.

I had a really bad fake ID and didn't want to risk it because I was bricking I'd get the rest of the lads kicked out. But I wanted an excuse to as not raise suspicion. So when the bartender asked what I wanted to drink I panicked and said I wasn't drinking because I was designated driver. She goes "seriously" and asked what car I drove, then gave me a free coke. I was absolutely chuffed.

Snotty · 03-12-2018 6:36pm

rubadub wrote: »

It would be very rare to see it for 2euro a bottle though. It is not just VAT anymore, there is the sugar levy/tax thing too.

4.10 in 200ml bottles works out 11.64 a pint. Or at least 3 bottles to fill a pint glass, I hate this idea that 2 bottles and a rake of watering down ice is "a pint".

If I owned a pub it would be cans of coke, or a cheaper version poured from a 2L bottle, maybe still get a 200ml incase some freak wants it, but charge accordingly, likely more than the can. Might even get some own brand stuff in. Cans are 37.5cent in tesco at the moment in multipacks. These likely state "from a mulitpack not for resale individually" on them. This has no legal bearing at all. So I would stock a few legit retail singular cans too and price them accordingly, so if I do get some whinger I can give them the expensive option that they insist upon.

Ever see the Simpson episode where Homer designs the car? Your pub would be a similar design.

Coke did a really poor job at this but it takes groups like the VFI and others to make something like this a success, publicans to a lesser extent.

Dave147 · 07-12-2018 12:41am

mikeym wrote:

And the pubs make money off the empty bottles.

No we don't. They're non returnable, as are 90% of products now. I have a bar in Cork and we were not approached about this, heard nothing about it and I'd say neither did anyone else nearby.

The Assistinator · 08-12-2018 9:33am

In fairness to publicans this year Coca Cola have a very bad offer to get this you have to buy so many Fanta/sprite coke/Diet Coke and water and fruice and a few other bits and then you be lucky to get less than 100 free bottles of Diet Coke won’t make it ordinary coke because of the sugar tax, most bars would not be able to justify getting the offer as a lot of the stuff you are left with.

The Assistinator · 08-12-2018 9:37am

Dave147 wrote: »

No we don't. They're non returnable, as are 90% of products now. I have a bar in Cork and we were not approached about this, heard nothing about it and I'd say neither did anyone else nearby.

Just another myth here but nobody makes money from empty’s even when they where returnable as they where on deposit so they’re all paid for on delivery and refunded on collection.
Sorry quoted your post accidentally.

Free CocaCola in pub

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