Pepsi's Deadly Mistake: The Philippines' Number Fever Tragedy

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-11-14 11:46:39 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-16 04:10:34

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In the summer of 1992, a simple marketing campaign in the Philippines turned into a deadly disaster, leaving five people dead and a nation in shock. Pepsi's "Number Fever" promotion, a seemingly harmless game, became a catalyst for chaos and tragedy. Over 600,000 bottle caps bearing the number 349 were distributed, leading to a frenzy of hopeful winners and a devastating outcome.

The promotion was straightforward: Pepsi printed three-digit numbers under the bottle caps of their soft drinks, and if the last two digits matched the last two digits of the consumer's birth year, they would win a prize. The grand prize of one million pesos was reserved for the number 349, a seemingly random combination. However, due to a printing error, an astonishing 621,000 bottle caps were printed with this number, creating an unexpected frenzy.

On May 25, 1992, the situation escalated. Pepsi's bottling plant in Manila was besieged by an angry mob demanding the promised prizes. The crowd, armed with sticks and stones, clashed with police, resulting in a tragic outcome. Five people lost their lives, and over a hundred were injured. The incident sparked widespread outrage and legal repercussions, with lawsuits filed against Pepsi and its local bottler, claiming negligence and fraud.

The aftermath of the tragedy left a lasting impact on the country and the company. Pepsi's reputation suffered a severe blow, and the incident became a cautionary tale in the world of marketing and promotions. The Philippines, still reeling from the tragedy, was left with a painful reminder of the potential consequences of corporate negligence and the power of consumer frenzy. This incident serves as a stark reminder that even the most well-intentioned marketing campaigns can have unforeseen and devastating consequences.

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