Budweiser's latest ad, which promotes responsible drinking, will not only convince you to never drink and drive, but will also leave you clutching your pet as you weep.
Titled "Friends are Waiting," the ad stars a man, Luke, and his adorable yellow lab Cooper. We see their strong bonds of friendship over the years, and then watch as Cooper is left home alone while Luke heads out with his friends. Cue the emotions.
The 60-second spot ends with a surprise twist, but the message remains simple and strong: Don't drink and drive. (Also: Never leave your pet's side again.)
The video echoes the same sentiments of Budweiser's Super Bowl ad "Puppy Love," which has garnered almost 52 million YouTube views to date, and was the most-watched Super Bowl ad of last year.
"Friendship, camaraderie and enjoying great times are at the heart of Budweiser's most popular campaigns, and this video maintains that tradition but with an unexpected twist," Brian Perkins, VP of marketing, told AdAge. "Budweiser is known for connecting with beer drinkers in memorable ways, and our efforts to promote responsible drinking through this video are no exception."
The ad, which dropped on Friday in honor of Global Be(er) Responsible Day, currently has more than 6 million views on YouTube. And it seems to have tugged at all the right heartstrings for beer and dog lovers, alike:
That Budweiser commercial. With the dog. About not drinking and driving. Has gutted me for life. #holyeffectivemarketing— Betsy McHugh (@betsymchugh) September 22, 2014
The new Budweiser "drink responsibly" commercial with the dog in it is genius, and awesome— Matt Galage (@MGalage93) September 22, 2014
That Budweiser commercial makes me wanna drink Budweiser with no one but my dog for the rest of my life— Annie B (@Anniecb9) September 22, 2014
That dog in the Budweiser commercial deserves an oscar #strongperformance— Cass (@cassidyyswan) September 22, 2014