It’s just water in a can. How did Liquid Death become a billion-dollar brand?

return2ozma@lemmy.world to Not The Onion@lemmy.world – 362 points –
It’s just water in a can. How did Liquid Death become a billion-dollar brand?
nbcnews.com
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Is it marketing? I bet it’s marketing.

In other words, the branding is one of the main selling points

Basically

There is a How I Built This podcast that interviews the founder. He was in marketing/advertising as a creative his entire career before he started the company. Actually, he didn’t even have enough money to make the first batch, so he created a video and Facebook page that went viral and got him enough interest and actual orders to prove to investors that they should fund him.

I just went to a festival that had only this brand for even regular still water, no water bottles with a cap. It was insanely irritating to not be able to just hang on to a bottle of water in my bag and pull it out whenever to take a sip, you have to just sit there and drink the whole water at once. Or toss it and spend another $6 to buy another can of water when you’re thirsty again. A small problem as problems go but frustrating at the time!

I work as a bartender in a live music venue in the Netherlands.

We, just like most festivals, used to always remove the caps from the water bottles, citing safety concerns (people would drop the bottle when empty but put the cap on, which is a nasty tripping hazard).

So a company started to make bottlecaps that clip to your pants, and most water vendors used a single size opening, which made this feasible. People held on to their cap, and could pause drinking.

Then water companies started to attach the cap to the bottle, to prevent litter, and the government issuing a mandate requiring us to charge per plastic unit.

So now we leave the caps on, but as guests return about 95% of bottles and cups to the bar (buying a drink without having a cup adds a 1 eur plastic surcharge), the safety hazard is basically gone.

As a bartender, I'd very much prefer bottles of water to cans. It allows guests to drink at their leasure, they're easier to transport and can't cause as much harm as a can (either by throwing or when squeezing it).

They are slightly visually less appealing than a cool can though, I'll give them that.

(people would drop the bottle when empty but put the cap on, which is a nasty tripping hazard).

How does having the cap on change the danger level of the hazard?

the bottle doesn't crush because the air is trapped inside.

Yes and the extremely thin plastic that the bottles are made of these days cracks and lets that air out as soon as force is applied.

Maybe you all drink Dasani exclusively or something, but most bottled water these days comes in plastic that's as thin as tissue paper. I have had that shit crack in my hands.

If you know you're going to a festival why not bring your own reusable bottle of water and use the cans to top it up?

If you’re planning a festival with thousands of people why not provide life giving water without charging 6 dollars?

Or to put it in internet speak “why do anything when you can do something else?”

Not sure where you live, but around here (Southern US) the festivals are required to provide free drinking water to everyone.

What festivals aren't providing water stations anymore?

Most people just don't look for the stations, or don't want to wait in the longer line.

I didn't even know this was a concept

A lot of festivals in the US had problems with heat stroke in the late 90's and early 2000's. The two solutions were to either give out free water or allow people to bring in their own water.

The festival organizers generally chose supplying free water.

You got an upvote on the first sentence and a downvote on the second sentence. :)

Because you want to make profit off people who are too incompetent to bring their own water.

That's a given. The problem comes when you want to profit off people who would bring their own water, but you don't let them.

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Or.. Bring an empty reusable bottle with you.

The festival specifically didn’t allow this either, they want you to spend your money inside the festival. I actually did bring my own water bottle anyway because I carry an electrolyte drink with me everywhere to help with a medical condition. The guy checking bags gave me a hard time but I stood my ground and brought it in. But they don’t make it easy

This is a kind of problems that would be solved instantly if people just didn't consent to being abused.

Wait hold on, so someone buys tickets to an event, show up, and have to buy canned water.

What, in your imagination, should be the next steps so they "don't consent to being abused"?

Bring your own water.

In my experience many venues do not let you bring your own water

Hence the abuse...

Okay, so what's the instant solution here? Apparently it's as easy as not consenting.

I thought I was agreeing with you...

Oh we're definitely both in agreement that they're being dicks. My issue is that the original comment I replied to is essentially victim blaming folks by saying "all you need to do is not consent, boom, problem instantly solved".

Based on everyone else's input (notably OP neglected to reply), it's clear that the best you can do is not go to the venue and hope that results in systemic change.

I wouldn't bet on that solution.

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Because the average person is stupid and will pay $4 for fucking water because it looks like an energy drink.

Or because it's the only water available at most concerts.

This exactly. Unless you're willing to drink from a communal jug that you can't guarantee no one has opened or spiked it with anything. Don't get me wrong, I don't buy Liquid Death either. I just drink water before entering the venue. Also, this applies to smaller venues that only have a bar, not arenas that sell bottled water.

A communal jug?! Dafuq?! Why are your venues storing water in a communal jug?

In some smaller bars, they use large coleman type jugs with taps and a stack of paper cups. If you ask for water at the bar, they will point you to the jug.

Do you guys not have taps that water comes out of?

In some smaller bars, they use large coleman type jugs with taps and a stack of paper cups. If you ask for water at the bar, they will point you to the jug.

Wtf, my condolences on the lack of hygiene regulations in your county

I just want portable water not in a plastic container. Also they're like a buck fifty.

All aluminum cans have a plastic epoxy liner.

So enjoy.

Yes and it's still infinitely recyclable, unlike plastic bottles. 70% of all aluminum ever produced is still in circulation thanks to how efficient aluminum recycling is, including epoxy lined cans.

So I will enjoy.

Does the liner contribute to microplastics in whatever is contained? Genuine question, that'd be a point against the epoxy liner. Of course any solution would have to include an effective replacement, so 🤷 Wax, maybe?

Yes, its also releasing BPA.

Yeah, I got mine for 98 cents a can. Highest price I've seen is like two bucks.

I got news for you about modern cans if you're trying to avoid plastic. They're lined with, you guessed it, plastic.

How much plastic? Not nearly the same amount and the bulk of the packaging is recyclable.

Not sure if the concern was based on recyclability or consumption of microplastics. If the concern is about waste, then they should be using a reusable container instead.

It's embarrassing how stupid you have to be to pay this for some water. Sure if you're in a pinch and there's no other option. But regularly? Turnip brains

it's a testament to how so many people just simply shouldn't exist and how society will probably never change until they don't.

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Having Live Nation as a prime investor kind of helps.

Yeah, I've only ever seen this brand when it was the only option to get water, in a place where I wasn't allowed to bring my own water ಠ_ಠ

Wait where don’t they let you bring water? Is that even legal?

One concert I went to that didn't let you bring water in ended up getting shut down because the only water available was bathroom sink water or tap water in a plastic cup for $8. And they didn't let you bring your plastic cups into the bathroom to refill them.

Probably about a third of the people there had to leave from passing out/dehydration and a bunch left in ambulances. And this was a concert where probably 90% of the people there were on drugs, which in my eyes makes the whole water situation even more irresponsible.

So legal, yeah probably, but also entirely fucked.

I feel for people putting on events like this. Ticket sales used to get you halfway to covering costs, but that's ok, you've got bar sales to make up the shortfall.

If everyone is taking drugs though, you either double the ticket price, charge for water, or not put on the gig.

Definitely legal. Or at least, not illegal.

I paid $6 for a kid's size bottle of water at Jerry world once. This was about 12 years ago. Kinda scared to find out how much it costs now.

Edit: jerry world is jerry jones' stadium in texas, USA, home of the dallas cowboys

Sorry clarification, I can't being my metal water bottle in.

I don't think I've ever been stopped trying to bring in a plastic bottle, but that needs to be empty so technically not allowed to bring in water. My main point was just that they sell it where there is a captured market.

Bring a collapsible cup and fill it ay the water fountain or any sink.

1: Take one of the basic necessities for life to exist

2: Put it in a can

3: Call it death while pointing out that it's neither solid, gas, nor plasma

4: ???

5: Profit

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I miss the times when this kind of bullshit only existed as parody

Every time I see that scene I'm reminded of "This is The Life" by Weird Al, specifically where he says "my bathtub's filled with Perrier"

I really like their lime flavor but I don’t get them very often. Are people here mad that consumers like to buy something with fun marketing? Yeah it’s a sparkling water with a ridiculous name. Sorry for having fun.

Where I am it's about twice the price of other sparkling water. Live your life however you love but that's the reason.

Are people here mad that consumers like to buy something with fun marketing?

Judging by some of the comments here and Lemmy in general. Yes.

Although I think a lot of that, has to do with its popularity more than anything else.

I never knew they sold flavored water. I just thought it was still and sparkly.

The mango is pretty good. Everyone in here is attempting to dunk on still water in a can that's $4 and ignoring that this is regularly sold at venues with a captured audience who can't bring in outside drinks and that it's the best sparkling water around.

I've only ever bought their peach tea. It was pretty tasty, but not something I would get all of the time. It was a nice alternative to other teas you find in the gas station.

I didn't even know they sold water. I've only ever seen tea.

Aldi's sells little bottles of sparkling mineral water where I live. I always grab one when I go there.

People like metal cans, and they like bubbly drinks. I share in your confusion.

TIL Liquid Death is water lol. I always assumed it was one of those coffee/energy drink hybrids from the name and price.

Glad Im not the only one who went "Wait, it's just fucking water?!"

Never bought it, never will. I don't understand people sometimes.

Well, it’s better than plastic bottles. If you’re at a concert or event, then it’s probably the sensible choice.

I'm not a huge festival goer but last time I was at one there were faucets from where you could just refill your bottles - for free.

Outdoor festivals are likely treated a little differently than indoor ones.

I've been to several concerts that pour all drinks into a plastic solo cup.

It is not better than plastic bottles. A plastic bottle lets you re-close the container.

I assume they meant environmentally better. Much easier to recycle metal than plastic.

Which concert doesn't sell drinks in (reusable) cups?

And for festivals I still will go with some 5L canisters full of water over a lot of cans

What bougie venue you been to that uses anything more fancy than a clear solo cup? Every concert I've been to in the last... 5 years at LEAST has been either a plastic bottle with the cap removed, a clear plastic cup, or a liquid death.

At least here in Germany everyone is selling drinks (beer as well as Softdrinks) from the tap in cups with usually 1 or 2 euros as a deposit so people don't throw them to the ground and create a hazard

Often the cups are also branded from the band so I collected a couple over the years

Ah, a deposit. That makes sense, so it'll never happen here jn the states lol.

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Cans have a plastic liner in them.

The inside of the can is lined by spray coating an epoxy lacquer or polymer to protect the aluminum from being corroded by acidic contents such as carbonated beverages and imparting a metallic taste to the beverage.

Ya good point, plasmadistortion. Recyclable aluminum cans are worse than plastic bottles. So glad you came here to share your wisdom with all of us. What other gems do you have?

It depends on your underlying goal.

Less waste? Great!

Not consuming microplastics and PFAS? Cans might as well be the same thing

Lemmy has become a toxic place thanks to people like you. I made a simple comment and instead you felt the need to be a jerk.

Lemmy is a toxic place since people talk about it stuff they know nothing about and than get bitchy when someone points it out.

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Apparently their market is recovering alcoholics that want to feel like they're holding a beer can when they're out with friends.

That's... actually pretty cool. It tells me the water itself is actually not the product, it's the can design. They're essentially selling a way of overcoming the very real social anxiety alcoholics can go through when they give up booze, but don't want to give up the social lives they've built around drinking.

I was all ready to hate on this, but if it's actually legitimately helping people stay off alcohol while maintaining a social life, then I can't really fault it.

Non-alcoholic beer exists and is available in cans. They even figured out how to make it taste like the "real" thing.

As someone who doesn't drink alcohol anymore but still loves the taste of beer, I highly recommend it!

Non-alcoholic and near-zero-ABV beers don't comport with a lot of people's sobriety.

Neither does being around other people when they drink, but some of us prefer not to close ourselves off to the rest of the world rather than making adjustments to make it easier to have a good time without getting drunk.

Just because some people are absolutists doesn't make you any more drunk from drinking beer with the alcohol content equivalent of a ripe banana (0.5% ABV) or less.

It's not about being an absolutist; it's about understanding every person's sobriety is unique. I think you should focus on growing some empathy.

I have plenty of empathy. Maybe don't say that every person's sobriety is unique as a way to invalidate a part of mine.

I understand that some people would consider the taste a trigger that might make them want to drink regular beer. That's how I feel about the smrll of cigarette smoke, even as I'm simultaneously repulsed by it.

For some of us, though, being able to have the pleasant taste without getting drunk makes it easier to stay sober than having no other source for it. It works for me and it works for A LOT of other people too.

What brand(s) comes closest to tasting good, in your experience?

Athletic Company is good. People like the Heineken one. I don't drink those, though. I like a nice Hoplark or a nicer sparkling water (like Liquid Death) when I'm at an event where alcohol is prominent.

I have no personal experience but I've heard people say that Heineken 0.0 is a good one

A lot of the ones I drink are only available in Denmark, but the Dutch Bavaria and the German Perlenbacher make non-alcoholic beers that taste great and (especially in the case of Perlenbacher) are actually cheap too!

Of the more pricey ones, Italian Peroni and Danish Mikkeler also have some delicious non-alcoholic ones.

There's tons of others too, especially if you (unlike me) don't mind a moderately to very hoppy taste. Those are just off the top of my head 🙂

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I bought some on sale once because it was cheaper than normal bubble water. I laughed every time I drank one and my wife refused to be seen with them. "Darling, don't you need to murder your thirst?!" It was the best sale purchase I've made at the grocery store in recent memory.

If I'm going to a party but not planning to drink, I'll always get some nonalcoholic drinks with me. If I can have a cool looking can or bottle, it's better. In general I get very much pleasure from uniquely designed drink containers

As someone else said, recovering alcoholics, but also they market towards sustainability. Infinitely recyclable aluminum instead of single use bottles and all that. I'm still just gonna drink from the tap most of the time, but I'll pick one up on a road trip or if I'm going on a picnic or something

Infinitely reciclable alluminum, but covered in plastic lol

Unsure why your downvoted, aluminium cans have a plastic liner on the inside. Their "better" than plastic bottles but still contribute to waste plastic.

Their flavored seltzers are absolutely repulsive, and I say this as a huge seltzer drinker

They taste more mineral water than seltzer water to me. Much more similar to a Perrier than a LaCroix. To me, at least, this means they taste fine cold, but start to go off pretty quick as it heats up and flattens. So, they have the same problem I have with Perrier, in that they're in larger containers and thus more prone to getting warm before you finish it.

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I like the idea of water in cans, this rivals one of own business ventures from a few years ago.

The issue I have with this is that this is clearly a profit based initiative, and I do not believe environmental benefits are really considered unless it adds to the profit.
Why do they not sell the cans at a reasonable price? Because it won't make them a billion dollars if they did this.

I just have my doubts that this has anything to do with doing any good for the planet, it's just expensive water that exists to fill pockets with money. Any benefit seems like a side effect.

Bottles like these while being metal still contain a very thin plastic layer. But still a step in the right direction

Oh I agree. I think getting people into using reusable bottles it would be better, however cities need to adapt to this approach for it to work. My local city centres all have standing cylinders, with a space for a water bottle, that dispense filtered water for free. They're set up all along busy shopping areas, and as long as they're maintained they can be very good at reducing the frequency of even needing to recycle a product. Recycling is fantastic for reusing materials and thus cutting down on destruction for resources etc., however the elephant in the room needs to be addressed: recycling plants, in order for the machines to process materials in such ways, inevitably creates some considerable pollutants in the air.
Just my opinion that recycling, as essential as it is in many ways, should not be used as a fallback for climate change; it makes more sense to me to systematically push reusable containers and make this the norm, of materials that can be easily recycled in the event that they break.

It's only a dollar here and I like that it comes in a can, not a plastic bottle simply because it gets colder faster and stays colder longer.

It’s only a dollar here

for... water.

This is the baffling part. I live in a country that periodically grades the taste of regional water supplies, in addition to testing for solids and the usual. And I live in a part of that country consistently known for really great-tasting tap water.

It's baffling that they'd sell water in a can. Please don't tell me it's bottled in Atlanta, where they bottle the worst-tasting coca-cola in the world, or it'll be extra-baffling.

Maybe the appeal is the "cool factor". Here's 2 examples I could think of. At work, you want to stand out from the "water bottle" people. At parties/bars maybe you don't want to drink alcohol, but still want something in your hand while you're mingling.

It's honestly a fine product. It's just overpriced by about 2 or 3 times what it should be.

The appeal was people who don't drink alcohol get some water that lets them fit in with the drinkers at first glance.

And it doesn't make it clear they're judging everyone around them for lack of palate and sense.

(Maybe that's just me)

I mean, buying a bottle of water is at least a dollar too.

At the super market? I pay 0,29€ for 1,5l or 0,15€ for 0,5l.

If it is at a gas station 1$ seems really cheap though.

Agreed, but you won't find this stuff in a gas station for $1. That's not how you make a billion dollars.

Some people live in places where the tap water tastes like chemical asshole. Or they travel. Whatever the reason, buying water happens.

That's not how thermodynamics work. It's either transferring heat more efficiently, or not. But always the same, in both directions.

It's probably "felt thermodynamics". The can feels colder, so it is colder.

How cold a beverage is, is a measure of how quickly it absorbs heat from your hand.

Explain insulation and conduction.

Insulation and conduction are opposites. Vacuum (empty space) and stagnant air are great insulators, that's how double walled bottles insulate.

Aluminum conducts heat quickly for the same reason it conducts electricity well. It has a relatively low heat capacity too so it doesn't take much energy to heat or cool it so it will more quickly heat or cool its contents.

Toss that alu can in the freezer to cool it quickly, then put it in an insulated colster to keep it cold.

I like that it comes in a can, not a plastic bottle simply because it gets colder faster and stays colder longer.

If it feels colder in your hand, it means the opposite of what you assume: It absorbs heat from your hand faster, so the stays colder shorter.

Imagine instead you hold a perfectly insulated container. You could not feel wether the inside is hot or cold, or else the insulation would be faulty.

So if you really want to have a drink that stays colder longer, grab something which does not give away how cold it is, quite literally.

Well probably because of the flavored and carbonated ones

And people feel better about driving from a can than a plastic water bottle? I dunno

The last point is always funny to me, because cans are plastic bottles inside of aluminum bottles. There is less plastic at least, I guess.

There's significantly less plastic in them, they only have to have a very thin coating to prevent the metal from oxidizing, vs having to be structurally supportive and retain its own shape. On top of that, aluminum is infinitely recyclable

Yeah, I think the recyclability is the main thing: plastic bottles cannot be recycled into the same grade of plastic in most cases, whereas aluminium cans can be recycled back into more cans.

Sex appeal in a name, so to speak. That's it. That's the answer.

It's just a brand guys, they make beer too. I actually really like the beer..

It's called liquid death as a beer company name that later branched or into water. They aren't calling the water specifically liquid death.

It's like asking why they call an ice cream flavor carnation, when it's clearly strawberry.

The only reason I ever drink this stuff if it's the only brand at a place. Overpriced for what it is.

The same way that can full of piss of a drink called prime became so popular

The stores around me always have a fucking ton of Prime but I never see anyone buying it or drinking it, it's weird. I feel like Logan Paul is gaslighting me.

well there was a period in the UK last year when it was so popular that there was a shortage of it with small convenience stores selling it for £10 a bottle. I think stores stockpiled them at the time, now they are back to being worthless.

I used to get them all the time. I'm basically addicted to carbonated water and these offer tall can versions vs plastic bottles or smaller cans.

Eventually I just switched to a sodastream though, waaay cheaper

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if you're in this thread you should be reading Guy Debord's The Society of the Spectacle

Tried it once. The flavor was alright, but it was barely carbonated to the point where it went completely flat before I even finished the can. I definitely don't see the appeal.

assuming you mean the carbonated one, not the still one (pictured). I like that they're less powerfully carbonated than most seltzers.

I've heard that their market is recovering alcoholics.

Not sure why you're being downvoted, Steve O for example has LD cans on his vidcast all the time when talking about addiction and such. Recovery being a big topic he touches on a lot.