Diageo uses virtual reality to give consumers a first-person perspective on the tragic effects of binge drinking.
On Tuesday, April 24th, Diageo, a global alcohol company hosted an event at New York’s VR World to showcase their latest immersive smart drinking initiative. Following the success of their 2016, Decisions VR experience, Diageo has just released “Decisions: Party’s Over” to showcase the effects of binge drinking. You may wonder why an alcohol company would want to advocate for consumers to limit their drinking habits, but Diageo’s aim is to ensure that consumers drink better, not more.
I was able to demo the experience and a get a first person view into a gathering of friends that goes terribly wrong. The experience allows you to be transported into a house party and feel four different viewpoints as the night and the morning unfold. As you go from character to character, you see how much they drink and the different combinations of drinks that they have, for example, 3 glasses of wine and 3 glasses of water for one character and 3 beers, 2 glasses of wine, and 4 shots for another. The entire event is a familiar one for many people, a gathering a friends where inhibitions are low, alcohol is abundant, and time flies. The story is a bit unsettling, however, it’s meant to show the extreme dangers of binge drinking and encourage drinkers practice moderation.
The event and the partnership with VR world, which is basically a 21st century arcade, were a great way to promote enjoying Diageo’s products responsibly.
To find out more about how you can try the experience at home click here and to find out more about VR world, click here or pay them a visit if you’re in New York.