Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For decades, regulations against featuring Santa Claus in alcohol advertising stood uncontested in Ohio. That was until a little bull terrier named Spuds MacKenzie donned Santa’s suit in 1987. This is the story of how a mascot dressed as Santa put Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light in the doghouse.
Sources:
“Liquor Board to Shield Santa and Fighting Men,” AP via Toledo Blade, Jul 4, 1950
“State Bars Santa Claus Liquor Ads,” AP via Akron Beacon Journal, Dec 29, 1951
“‘Evie’ Became ‘Spuds’ to Plug Busch’s Suds,” Scott Hume, Advertising Age via The Houston Chronicle, Mar 9, 1986
“The Party Animal,” Gay Taleash, Canine Quarterly (“CQ,” a canine parody magazine), 1987
“Spuds MacKenzie: An Underdog’s Triumph,” Beth Ann Krier, Los Angeles Times, Jul 16, 1987
“Santa’s Gone to the Dog,” Angela D. Chatman, The Plain Dealer, Dec 3, 1987
“State Plays Scrooge Over Spuds Package,” Patty Wise, The Beacon Journal, Dec 3, 1987
“Spuds MacKenzie in Court Battle,” AP via The Leader-Post, Dec 3, 1987
“Stores Drop Santa,” UPI via The Bryan Times, Dec 9, 1987
“Liquor Commission Reviews Spud’s Ads,” AP via The Urbana Daily Citizen, Dec 10, 1987
“Spuds is Bumped Off Store Shelves,” AP via The Urbana Daily Citizen, Dec 11, 1987
“Go, Spuds, Go,” UPI via Troy Daily News, Dec 11, 1987
“Ohio Says Humbug to Spuds as Santa,” Scripps Howard News Service via The North County Blade-Tribune, Dec 11, 1987
“Utah Follows Buckeye State in Prohibiting ‘Santa Spuds,’” AP via The Tribune, Dec 14, 1987
“Where I Stand,” Philip Devol, Opinion, The Marion State, Dec 17, 1987
“Trivial Pursuit,” Phillip J. Schurrer, Letter to the Editor, The Blade, Dec 21, 1987
“Quirky Liquor Rules Packed into Ohio Laws,” Laura A. Bischoff, State Bureau USA Today Network via The Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov 27, 2023
Rule 4301:1-1-44 | Advertising, Ohio Administrative Code, effective May 16, 2021
For decades, regulations against featuring Santa Claus in alcohol advertising stood uncontested in Ohio. That was until a little bull terrier named Spuds MacKenzie donned Santa’s suit in 1987. This is the story of how a mascot dressed as Santa put Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light in the doghouse.
Sources:
“Liquor Board to Shield Santa and Fighting Men,” AP via Toledo Blade, Jul 4, 1950
“State Bars Santa Claus Liquor Ads,” AP via Akron Beacon Journal, Dec 29, 1951
“‘Evie’ Became ‘Spuds’ to Plug Busch’s Suds,” Scott Hume, Advertising Age via The Houston Chronicle, Mar 9, 1986
“The Party Animal,” Gay Taleash, Canine Quarterly (“CQ,” a canine parody magazine), 1987
“Spuds MacKenzie: An Underdog’s Triumph,” Beth Ann Krier, Los Angeles Times, Jul 16, 1987
“Santa’s Gone to the Dog,” Angela D. Chatman, The Plain Dealer, Dec 3, 1987
“State Plays Scrooge Over Spuds Package,” Patty Wise, The Beacon Journal, Dec 3, 1987
“Spuds MacKenzie in Court Battle,” AP via The Leader-Post, Dec 3, 1987
“Stores Drop Santa,” UPI via The Bryan Times, Dec 9, 1987
“Liquor Commission Reviews Spud’s Ads,” AP via The Urbana Daily Citizen, Dec 10, 1987
“Spuds is Bumped Off Store Shelves,” AP via The Urbana Daily Citizen, Dec 11, 1987
“Go, Spuds, Go,” UPI via Troy Daily News, Dec 11, 1987
“Ohio Says Humbug to Spuds as Santa,” Scripps Howard News Service via The North County Blade-Tribune, Dec 11, 1987
“Utah Follows Buckeye State in Prohibiting ‘Santa Spuds,’” AP via The Tribune, Dec 14, 1987
“Where I Stand,” Philip Devol, Opinion, The Marion State, Dec 17, 1987
“Trivial Pursuit,” Phillip J. Schurrer, Letter to the Editor, The Blade, Dec 21, 1987
“Quirky Liquor Rules Packed into Ohio Laws,” Laura A. Bischoff, State Bureau USA Today Network via The Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov 27, 2023
Rule 4301:1-1-44 | Advertising, Ohio Administrative Code, effective May 16, 2021
