All in a name

From the “we-are-ashamed-we-even-have-to-say-this” department, comes a reminder from Corona beer: the popular Mexican lager has nothing to do with the global disease of the same name.

According to a survey by public relations firm 5WPR, which polled 737 adults over 21, 38 percent would not buy Corona beer “under any circumstances” following the coronavirus outbreak. Of those who regularly drink Corona, 14 percent said they wouldn’t order it in public, while 4 percent said they’d stopped drinking it altogether.

Beverage giant Constellation Brands, which brews and distributes Corona, reiterated to CNN that “there is no link between the virus and our business.” However, Google shows a spike in searches for “corona beer virus” on Jan. 30 – the day the first U.S. case was reported.

Constellation’s stock has also taken a hit, falling nearly 11 percent on Feb. 28. But this should be taken with a shaker of salt – the drop coincides with the worst week for the Dow since 2008.

So once again people: there is no way to get sick from drinking Corona beer. Unless you drink too much. Or drink from someone else’s bottle (and no, the lime does not “kill off” all the germs.)