Man Urges Jack In The Box Boycott Over Ad

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A man has scrawled a message on the back of his car's windshield urging people to boycott Jack in the Box fast-food restaurants.

Steve Turner, who owns Auto Electric Specialists in Glendale, believes one of the current television commercials for Jack in the Box tacos promotes and validates impaired driving, KPHO-TV reported.

The commercial shows a van at a Jack in the Box drive-through. The driver of the van appears confused and dazed as he places an order for 99 tacos for 2 cents. The restaurant actually offers two tacos for 99 cents. The small "Jack" figurine on the dash then comes to life and starts talking. (Watch commercial on YouTube)

A similar commercial using the same actor ran a couple of years ago; the spots have commonly become known as the Jack in the Box "stoner commercials."

Turner said the message of the commercial is clear: get stoned, get the munchies, then drive through a Jack in the Box and get food. He said the commercial not only condones but promotes impaired driving, and he will boycott the restaurant chain until the commercial stops running.

Kathleen Anthony, corporate communications media relations manager for Jack in the Box said, "The commercials are intended to present information about our products in a fun and entertaining way."

Anthony added that "there's nothing in the ad to suggest that the driver of the van is impaired in any way."

Turner admitted his one-person crusade will probably have little effect, but he hopes those who see or hear about his call to boycott will give it a second thought.

"I feel like I'm doing what we all should be doing," he said. "If something is wrong, then (we should) say something about it."

Anthony said the commercial is set to continue airing through the beginning of July. There is no plan to end the ad early.