VANCOUVER - A Vancouver man who sold bottles of ``gluten free'' Hot Dog Water for nearly 40 dollars each says he was trying to see how marketing of health claims backed by supposed science amounts to quick sales.
Douglas Bevans says he boiled about 100 organic beef hot dogs and put each one in a bottle of the water he sold at an annual car-free event.
Each bottle sold for 37 dollars and 99 cents, but two bottles cost only 75 dollars because of a special promotion at his booth, where he wore a hot dog onesie.
Bevans promised his Hot Dog Water would lead to increased brain function, weight loss and disappearing crow's feet if it's rubbed on the face in the form of a lip balm -- which he also happened to sell.
He calls himself a performance artist and says he showed how consumers can be fooled by slick marketing backed by supposed scientific research.
While many people laughed, Bevans says others were impressed by the health benefits they'd experience with his unique products, including Hot Dog Water body spray and Hot Dog Water breath freshener.