Honest Tea's social experiment testing DC's honesty today

By Kim Chi Ha
July 19, 2011 - 11:36 am

We all know D.C. is full of lying liars who tell lies, but Bethesda-based Honest Tea wants to be certain. Today they've launched a nationwide experiment, called Honest Cities, which involves placing carts of their drinks — unaccompanied — on busy sidewalks, with a sign asking people who take a bottle to leave $1 in a box. Meanwhile, hidden cameras (see below) capture all the dull action.

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Let the guilt be with you. (Source: Flickr/A Girl with Tea)

Honest Tea's D.C. cart is in Dupont Circle this year. Last year, a cart placed at Union Station found 93 percent of the people were honest, placing D.C. as the second-most-honest city in the nation, after Boston. "Sometimes people put in more money. We saw a guy put in $5 and took three bottles," Seth Goldman, the "Tea E.O." of Honest Tea, tells WUSA.

After watching the livestream for a few minutes, though, I've noticed people actually pulling out dollar bills.

 



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I'll be taking a field trip to Dupont Circle to grab some (free) honest tea today. http://t.co/b07Ziyoless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyLauren Jennings
LaurJenn

#Honesty? Icetea on public sidewalk 4 a dollar, but noone @ the stand, do u leave $? Honest Tea Co. looks for most honest city. look out #DCless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyMike Hydeck
mikehydeck

I hope a flash mob doesn't steal the cash box. RT @mealticket Honest Tea will test out Philly's honesty next week: http://t.co/ONtlSQKless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyDrew Lazor
drewlazor

Found on my Honest Tea label: "If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it." - Albert Einsteinless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyAnne Marie OKeefe
aokcamp

[via WUSA9]

Short URL: http://tbd.ly/nQWGlX

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