Drink driving isn’t funny. That much we know.
But what happens when a transport authority tries a light-hearted approach to get young kids to stop boozing and cruising? This happens, from the New Zealand Transport Agency. And it will make you laugh out loud. Trust us. (Especially for lovers of the Kiwi accent!)
Now it’s over to you: do you reckon it’s better than the shock and awe campaigns traditionally relied upon?
Let us know.
 anti-drink drive ad, bro? on http://www.mamamia.com.au){kind=link}
Comments
76 Comments so far
Its a great ad…”want some of my chips bro.” “you know I can’t eat your chips” As he grabs the air next to him!!!
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awesome ad!
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I’m 21 so fairly close to the age demographic of the ad and love it – so do my friends. It was shared a while back – over a month ago – on Facebook and “ghost chups” has become a catchphrase. We’ve all seen it even though it hasn’t shown in Aus. What I love is that it actually understands the dilemma teenagers go through when they want to do the right thing but are under huge pressure to look cool and be accepted by their friends. I think it’s spot on and will work because when a teen sees their drunk friend about to drive they’ll think of this as they ‘internalise a really complicated situation’. Plus kiwis are adorable!
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I always think that people respond better when they see a commercial that actually outlines a clear benefit to their actions. I like the bit at the end where they say ” stopping a mate from drinking….legend” because I feel as though a young person would see that and say “yeah that’s awesome”.
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Its great that governments are FINALLY looking at the studies (which have been around for ages!) that those scare tactics aren’t effective. Definitely targets the right audience in a way that will get through to them – awesome.
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oh yeah!
I love this bit “I’ve been internalising a really complex situation in my head”
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American here and I love it, as did everyone here I’ve shown it to. We find the accent endearing and, frankly, as hard to follow as some Aussie accents. With that said, we all love the same lines that folks have been quoting here. Great music and direction really hammered the humor home.
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love it!
i think what people have said below is right, the shock tactics are desensitising people from the issue. a new approach is definitely needed and i think this one could work.
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I agree. I think all that ‘tut tut tut’ slap-on-the-wrist advertising is boring the young senseless. Hell, even I’m bored by it. They’ve just endured 18 years of having Mum and Dad tell them what to do, so when they finally earn their wings as drivers are they really going to heed more carping and nagging? Judging by the stats, most likely not. Top ad.
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Love it. That is an awesome ad. I think using humour – but still getting across an important message – is a great, fresh approach. Sometimes i think you can get a bit desensitised to the ‘shocking’ campaigns we have. And plus an ad like this would generate a lot of conversation I reckon. Choice bro!
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bloody ligind bro! that is a masterpiece of very short filmmaking, communicates the point beautifully and succintly – and so funny, kudos to all involved, writers, producers, actors, director
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what accent??
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I taught science for 35 years, when we discussed speed, acceleration etc driving accidents would also be discussed. I have never thought any of the current ads would change the student’s driving attitude. This ad would definitely make them talk about it and thus think it through.
Great ad.
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Great add ,have 4 sons , courage to speak up is the answer, kindness prevails
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ARE there any lovers of the Kiwi eccint??
Like Lola, I think I need subtitles, although I did get the gist of it okay.
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I think you mean the “gest” of it aye bro
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I love it! I think it’s gorgeous. And so are Kiwis
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Subtitles please!
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Excellent humor and intention, but unfortunately will not get through to those who drink and drive. I wish I was I was wrong.
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Nothing gets through to people who continually drink and drive
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It’s not meant for the drink drivers. It’s meant for the friends of drink drivers ey.
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I believe they already realise this, which is why they are targeting friends instead. This ad is about convincing young people that it’s ok to speak up and stop a mate who is making the bad decision to drink and drive. I think it does this really well.
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I saw this on Sunrise this morning – absolutely loved it! Nothing like a good laugh first thing in the morning. The fact it raises an important issue at the same time just makes it that much better. Very clever and I think young peeps will appreciate it or at least get them talking about it. “Ghost Chups” lol!
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Love it. I like the ‘internalising’ so funny we should run it here
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I’m planning on discussing legal drugs today with my students, several of which are of Maori origin, I think this will go down very well! Love the ‘ghost chups’ too!
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LOL That was the cutest ad ever. “You know I can’t grab your ghost chups!” “Spacehead!” Loved it. Really cool.
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Hahaha, I love it!
Whether it’ll work, not sure… I don’t think any campaign in particular does, it’s the combined reminder of all of them that hopefully gets the message through in the long run. I doubt teenagers, and in particular the drunken kind, spend too much time thinking about ads like this one, or the others.
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I thought that would be boring but I BLOODY LOVED IT BROO.
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Choice bro! Funny and undoubtedly effective!
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LOOLLLL SOOOO GOOD. Now sharing with everyone I know.
“Leeeegend”
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LOVE IT!!!!!!!! =D seriously better than the one a few years ago, with the little pinky…anyone remember that?
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Hilarious advert! Way better than what we have over here. Pretty effective aye
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Love it.
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I love Kiwi humour.
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Puzzle Time…!!
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Awesome – love it!
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I absolutely LOVE guys with NZ accents- just makes me happy! Luckily I’m going over there over summer
Shock and gore doesn’t work! blah blah violence in video games and movies means many are used to it and it doesn’t have the desired effect. Personally I never watch them- always change the channel or look away since loosing a really good friend in a preventable accident (he hadn’t been drinking or showing off, just not paying enough attention)
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Couldn’t understand a word. I’m sure my nephews would love it and laugh themselves silly.
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Bloody hilarious. This has much greater appeal to a younger audience-especially with the Kiwi accent. It would certainly get youth talking about ‘that Kiwi ad’. But I don’t believe it would have a greater impact on curbing drink driving, than a more serious crash ad.
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I thought he said ‘goose chips’ – I figured it was a NZ thing, like pineapple lumps. Ghost chips…heh heh heh…
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Pineapple lumps are the world’s greatest invention.
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Genius. It’s cool, funny and positive. I love ghost George too!
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That was ACE!!!
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Choice ad eh bro?
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Loved it!
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Brilliant, bro!
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Positive reward of (being a Legend) rather than negative punishment (guilt & loss of friend), excellent!
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“you know I can’t eat your ghost chup!” hahaha
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haha that made me laugh too !
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I loved the ‘leeeeeeeegend’ at the end xP
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Brilliant!
Absolutely love it.
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I think it’s great and probably far more effective at getting the message across than those ‘shock and awe’ ads. We see so much violence in the media already, the car accident ads don’t stand out, they are just more of the same. This ad on the other hand is memorable because it’s funny. The message sticks.
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That was excellent, eh.
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It did make me laugh, but better still it made the guy doing the right thing the hero. That was cool.
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They have some other good ones in NZ about binge drinking where the girl is sobbing into her ex-boyfriends voicemail. The message was something like ‘binge drinking: you’ll regret it’.
I think the effective part is that it shows what to do if someone might drink drive, not just showing you the accident. Because once you’re behind the wheel it’s too late.
I love ghost chips!
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What I like is that they are trying something new. I hope it works, because much of what is being used at the moment isn’t working.
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clever and effective for sure as it talks straight to the kids and “ghost chips” made me laugh a lot
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This ad is so clever! Love it!
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absolutely love this ad!! ‘you know I can’t grab your ghost chips!’ HAHAHA!! Brilliant!
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hahaha I love it!
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