Red Bull strikes bad note with Titanic ad

It has been widely marketed as the drink that “gives you wings” but the makers of Red Bull face being brought to earth with a bang due to the content of its latest advert featuring the Titanic.

More than 110 complaints have been lodged with Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority in the last two weeks over the content of the advert, including a number from descendants of people who lost their lives on the stricken vessel.

In the cartoon-style advert, a crate of the energy drink is shown as it is being winched onto a ship. The captain approaches the man loading it and asks what it is. When he is told it is Red Bull, he says: “No, no, take it down immediately. On my ship we only have champagne”. The loader replies: “Yes, but Red Bull gives you wings.”