Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2015 Jul 24;39(9):1766–1774. doi: 10.1111/acer.12811

Appendix Table.

Coding operationalizations

Theme (Kappa) Description Common content features
Humor (0.68) A humorous theme is one that is attempting to make the consumer laugh. Sometimes this is accomplished through spoof and satire of existing television shows, movies, or even other advertising campaigns.
  • Humorous messages

  • Spoof/satire

  • Exaggeration

  • Jokes

Friendship (0.81) An ad with a friends theme will be centered on a small group of people who are clearly intimate with one another. This may be at a bar, a restaurant, at a personal house, outside, or many other locations.
  • Small group of intimate friends

  • Bar or restaurant scene

  • Low-key gathering at a friend’s house

Artistic (0.63) An artistic ad will clearly be focused on artistic imagery, whether focused on the product. The ad will be focused on visual stimulation primarily.
  • Specific color schemes

  • Illustrated images

  • Digital enhancement, graphic design

  • Abstraction

Sports (0.67) An ad with the theme of sports usually takes place at a sporting event, involves the subjects playing sports, or the subjects watching sports at home.
  • Subjects at a sports event

  • Subjects playing sports

  • Subjects watching sports

Relax (0.70) An ad with the theme of relaxation will typically involve a scene that is clearly different from normal, hectic life. This can include, but is not limited to, a beach scene, an outdoors scene, at the park, or any other leisure activity. Also, this theme can show how the product helps to deal with stress.
  • Beach

  • Vacation

  • After work

  • Golf or other leisure activities

Sex (0.54) An ad with the theme of sex appeal will objectify either a female or a male as an object of pure sexuality. This often involves swimsuits, little clothing, and sexy body language.
  • Low cut or tight clothing

  • Objectification of the male or female

  • Swanky, jazzy, sultry music

Partying (0.75) Partying typically has a sense of anonymity, although sometimes one or two people will be singled out as central subjects of the advertisement. The location is usually at someone’s house or outdoors, somewhere where everyone is interacting at the same time. Often there are a lot of people present and a lot of alcohol viewed.
  • Group of people

  • Fun atmosphere

  • House party, or some other large space party

Quality (0.75) Quality will typically mentioned, with an emphasis on comparisons. Often the ad will center on the ingredients that go into the product, the process used to make it, and how it is to be consumed. Also, any reference to being voted or chosen as the best would indicate quality.
  • Images of ingredients

  • Images of production

  • Mentioning of unique aspects of the product

Love (0.68) An ad with the theme of love and romance will typically be focused on one man and one woman who either know each other already or are initiating contact for the first time. Subjects are more than just objects to look at, but are more often initiated in conversation and dating behavior.
  • Interactions between one man and one woman

  • More than just physical interaction

Manly (0.73) An ad with the theme of manliness will typically center around values and traits praised as being manly, such as macho-ness, man time, and confidence. There may be some women in the ad, but they will be focused on the male subjects. They will typically glorify the stereotypes of typical male roles.
  • Men together

  • Words that exude a feeling of being a man (e.g., strong, independent, competitive, ambitious, experienced, hard, rugged, husky, macho, etc.)

Taste (0.54) An ad with the theme of taste will typically talk about how the product tastes and what makes the product taste so good. It often talks about refreshment and flavor, sometimes in comparison with other products. Taste must be a main theme, not simply part of the slogan.
  • Taste mentioning

  • Clear acts of being refreshed

Luxury (0.67) An ad with the theme of luxury will usually show money, an expensive and sophisticated lifestyle, more extravagant settings, and more high-class themes. They will usually portray the subjects as being successful, giving them as examples for the consumer to aspire to be.
  • Expensive products

  • Expensive locations

  • Hipness

  • Sophistication

Tradition (0.74) Tradition typically entails a long history of the product and the success and reputation it has been able to maintain. Usually it cites some historical references in terms of the brand. It can also highlight traditional values that existed when the product originated.
  • Historical perspective

  • Historical imagery

  • Consumption by multiple generations