It is a Friday night-in and a knock bangs at the door. Instead of the expected pizza delivery man, there stands a bearded, stocky man holding a black funnel and tube — known to college students everywhere as a beer bong — which he says will help stop world hunger.
“We love beer bongs, and we thought it would be great to start a company that gives back right off the bat,” Curtis said. “Most corporations start with the idea they should make money, and then they can give back, but we thought it was such a fun idea that we weren’t really interested in money at all. We just wanted to spread the idea and the cause.”
With the slogan, “We’re thirsty, they’re hungry,” BBFWP markets beer bongs for $10. Each sale feeds four children, and proceeds go to the World Food Programme, which is the world’s largest humanitarian agency focused on decreasing worldwide hunger, according to its website.
Since it began last year, BBFP has fed 1,008 children, and the group plans to feed many more in the future, Curtis said.
Lewis said the members of BBFWP wanted to “channel their energies and talents into something that is giving back to the world we live in.”
He said because he and his friends like to do freestyle beer bonging, which involves taking pictures of themselves doing beer bongs in outrageous places, selling them to fight hunger seemed like the best idea.
“We all kind of graduated, and we didn’t want to get into any real world job, per se,” Lewis said. “We’ve all kind of lived here and been friends for a while. We all enjoy going out and having a good time. So, what’s a way we can continue having a good time, but at the same time promoting a progressive world view and helping out? We decided, ‘Hey, we like to do beer bongs.’”
Though the group aims to party for a good cause, Curtis said they have received some negative feedback. Curtis said opposition to the group’s partying message has been met by groups that aim to raise awareness against excessive drinking such as Peers Understanding Listening Speaking Educating (P.U.L.S.E.) as well as the alcohol-related death of Cason Starkey in 2008. This also includes some older members of the community and even the parents of BBFWP members. However, Curtis said that the people against the group are not its target demographic.
Nathan Huerta, a BBFWP member and Cal Poly alumnus, said doing beer bongs is actually more responsible than other drinking activities, such as taking shots downtown.
“Theoretically, you try to take 10 beer bongs in an hour,” Huerta said. “You might end up very full and not being able to do it. But if you take 10 shots in an hour, you will be able to do it, and you will probably be making dumb decisions because you’re way too drunk.”
Curtis said he hopes they can show those against the group that although college students party, they are still aware of world issues and can contribute to a good cause.
Lewis also said because partying is so prevalent in college, aiming it toward something beneficial for the world shows a positive message.
“You’re not ever going to get rid of the drinking culture at college,” Lewis said. “The least you can do is turn the energy that you have in that culture to something good. The very fact that you are able to have fun and drink beer, perhaps take beer bongs, means that you live in a pretty stable, enjoyable place. You might as well help to contribute that kind of stability to the rest of the world through your partying.”
At this time, Lewis said BBFWP is a “grass-roots effort,” and sells mostly to Cal Poly students. Curtis said the group hopes to have an online ordering system on its website by July, but until then, those wishing to buy beer bongs must contact him through the website.
Huerta said buying a beer bong from BBFWP is a good investment because of the children it feeds.
“If you want to go out to Firestone and get a tri-tip sandwich, it will cost you $7.99, and with a drink, you’re looking at $10,” Huerta said. “It’s filling and delicious, but you are only feeding yourself. With that same $10, you can buy yourself an awesome beer bong, feed yourself and feed four hungry little children.”
Though the group is just starting, Curtis said the majority of feedback has been exceptionally positive. Huerta said he even obtained a software specialist job because of BBFWP.
“In my job interview, the person who interviewed me said, ‘Give me your best sales pitch,’ and I guess she was just thinking I was going to make something up,” Huerta said. “I just fully gave her my elevator pitch on BeerBongs for World Peace. She just busted up laughing and called her secretary to get my information because I was hired on the spot.”
She even bought a beer bong.
Curtis said he hopes the program will continue far into the future. The next plan is to have a motor home donated to the group so it can travel across the country to different campuses and music festivals and sell beer bongs.
All humor aside, Curtis said the group aims to spread its philanthropic message.
“In reality, world peace feels good, and so does one really fresh, fast beer bong,” Curtis said.