New "Clink" Program Allows Users to Share Their Beer Drinking Experiences
ST. LOUIS and SAN JOSE, CA - March 2, 2007 - Here's to Beer is proud to announce that "Clink," an innovative new social networking promotion has launched on MingleNow.com. "Clink" will allow contemporary adults to photograph themselves enjoying beer with their friends in a variety of social situations and share them over the MingleNow.com platform. With "Clink," Here's to Beer has created a unique opportunity to remind contemporary adults that beer is the best choice to bring old and new friends together.
"Here's to Beer is a program dedicated to enhancing the image of beer. As times change and people explore new mediums to connect with friends, beer will be there to share in the experiences," said Bob Lachky, executive vice president of Global Industry Development for Anheuser-Busch. "Virtual social networking has become part of the daily routine of how contemporary adults communicate with each other. Supporting this niche social media outlet where people actively engage in sharing stories and images reinforces the honesty and authenticity of socializing over a beer."
Here's to Beer, an industry-wide effort spearheaded by Anheuser-Busch, was created to elevate and enhance the image of beer. Through the "Clink" initiative with MingleNow.com, both companies will promote "Clinking" and encourage users to share beer experiences online. Users place their photos into a general "Clink" album or into various themed "Clink" groups, created by "Clink" users. The site will hold contests through the year, allowing users to vote for their favorite "Clink" photo, and will award prizes to those with the highest overall rating.
"MingleNow is fostering a sense of community with trendsetting adults," said Gurbaksh Chahal, chairman and CEO of BlueLithium, the company that created MingleNow. "Here's to Beer and 'Clink' create a unique environment where users can connect with people who share interests similar to their own."
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.8 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country's best-selling premium beer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2006. Anheuser Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.
The first offline to online social network, MingleNow was created in 2006 to solve a modern social problem: connecting many different groups of real-world friends, easily, online. MingleNow bridges the two worlds by connecting people to the bars, clubs and restaurants where they hang out and to the other people who hang out there. The network features include photo and video sharing, event planning and calendar functions, RSS, Wordpress, and Google Maps. MingleNow was conceived and built by the BlueLithium Labs unit of BlueLithium, a leading online ad network. For more information, please visit www.MingleNow.com.
Kathleen Formidoni
blast! PR for BlueLithium/MingleNow
(919) 833-9975 x11
kathleen@blastpr.com
Mike Torres
Anheuser Busch
(314) 577-3222
michael.torres@anheuser-busch.com