Using an internet meme to promote a alcohol-free prom night? No.
Grumpy Cat would probably not approve of this Grumpy Cat-inspired ad against underage drinking at prom spotted on a highway by an annoyed redditor.
Redditors crowdsourced the location and determined that the billboard resides on route 51 neat Pittsburgh. If you look closely, you can see that the ad is the work of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, with support from the Elizabeth Forward School District.
According to the PLCB, underage drinking is actually on the decline in the state:
“While today there are fewer young people in Pennsylvania participating in underage drinking compared to previous years, there is still much work to be done, as evidenced by a 2011 survey showing that 25 percent of Pennsylvanians aged 12 to 20 used alcohol in the past month,” said board member Robert S. Marcus in a recent release. “The most effective methods of addressing these rates continue to evolve, so the programs communities utilize must adapt as well.”
April was Alcohol Education Awareness Month.
I’m not sure that employing Grumpy Cat to sell the message is the way to go. The real life (and often incorrect) use of internet memes almost always backfires.
Just say no…to bad meme use.