7-Eleven Pulls Drink Named 'Cocaine'

[matcom]

<snip>

DALLAS --Convenience-store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is telling franchises to pull a high-caffeine drink from its shelves because of the product's name: Cocaine.

The company acted after getting complaints from parents of teens, who are a big part of the drink's target audience.

"Our merchandising team believes the product's name promotes an image which we didn't want to be associated with," said Margaret Chabris, a spokeswoman for 7-Eleven.

Cocaine comes in red cans, with the name spelled out in what are meant to resemble lines of white powder.

According to the label, each 8.4-fluid ounce can contains 280 milligrams of caffeine -- more jolt than a cup of coffee, a can of Coca-Cola or the leading energy drink, Red Bull -- but no cocaine.

The drink is made by Redux Beverages of Las Vegas, which markets it as "The legal alternative."

Hannah Kirby, the company's managing partner, said 7-Eleven stores didn't account for many sales of the drink. It hit shelves in New York and California in August and is now available in more than a half-dozen states, mostly in mom-and-pop convenience and liquor stores.

This isn't the first time Cocaine has been yanked. Some stores in the New York area pulled the drink after local politicians complained. It's all part of the company's plan to stand out in the fast-growing energy drink market.

"We knew the name was going to be provocative," said Kirby, whose husband, James, created the drink.

Kirby said the company wasn't glorifying an illegal drug in the eyes of its young consumers. "Kids understand the difference between a controlled substance and an energy drink," she said.

Chabris, the 7-Eleven spokeswoman, said the Dallas-based chain is recommending that franchisees not stock the drink.

Chabris said a vendor that isn't recommended by 7-Eleven "dropped the product off at some stores in Northern California." She said she didn't know how many stores carried it.

7-Eleven stores sell other energy drinks, which nutritionists warn can cause caffeine and sugar highs followed by crashing lows among kids who consume them -- sometimes several in a row.

Researchers in Chicago reported this month that they saw a surprisingly high number of cases of caffeine abuse over the past three years, including 12 percent that required hospital treatment. The average age of the victims was 21.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/10/24/7_eleven_pulls_drink_named_cocaine?mode=PF

[Random_Australian]

1. 280 mg caffeine? My goodness gracious!

That's the most I heard of since that 13 gram nicotine sample I was mucking around with a little while back.

[Mutley]

2. Well, that Is a stupid name for it.

:eyes:

[Robb]

3. Stupid like a fox

The market for those things is getting pretty dense. This is a way to stand out, and plus, free press.

[Mutley]

4. True

But on the other side of the coin, you've retailers who will pull it because of the name, and parents who won't let their kids drink it. I guess controversy is great publicity, though, isn't it? Kinda sad in a way.

[southpaw]

5. Not cool...

I have not a problem with adults smoking marijuana if they so desire, but this marketing tactic, focused on the teen market as it is reputed to be, serves to minimize the dangers of a fiercely addictive and health-destroying substance (cocaine, not caffeine).

Do the producers of this shit have no sense of responsibility?

Oh, wait... it's all about the bottom line, innit?

[kay1864]

6. Well THIS got me to wondering...

According to the label, each 8.4-fluid ounce can contains 280 milligrams of caffeine -- more jolt than a cup of coffee, a can of Coca-Cola or the leading energy drink, Red Bull

So I looked it up:

Coffee, brewed 240 mL (8 US fl oz) 135 (varies according to preparation)
Red Bull 240 mL (8.2 US fl oz) 80
Coca-Cola Classic 355 mL (12 US fl oz) 34

[anarch]

8. frankly I think 280 milligrams of actual cocaine would be healthier

than that much caffeine. They'd probably have to charge like $20 a bottle, though.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Probably around $12, if they were sold in a 4-pack

[anarch]

12. I guess that depends whether you're friends with whoever's selling the, umm...

sports drink.

[kwassa]

7. The original coca in Coca-Cola was, of course, cocaine

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp

Claim: Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine.

Status: True.

Origins: Coca-Cola
was named back in 1885 for its two "medicinal" ingredients: extract of coca leaves and kola nuts. Just how much cocaine was originally in the formulation is hard to determine, but the drink undeniably contained some cocaine in its early days. Frederick Allen describes the public attitude towards cocaine that existed as Coca-Cola's developers worked on perfecting their formula in 1891:

The first stirrings of a national debate had begun over the negative aspects of cocaine, and manufacturers were growing defensive over charges that use of their products might lead to "cocainism" or the "cocaine habit". The full-throated fury against cocaine was still a few years off, and Candler and Robinson were anxious to continue promoting the supposed benefits of the coca leaf, but there was no reason to risk putting more than a tiny bit of coca extract in their syrup. They cut the amount to a mere trace.

[underpants]

9. How did that get through the whole organization?

Seriously what are those executives doing? Oh yeah that's right they are doing about as much as their buddies the Republican lead congress.

[TimeChaser]

11. Bawls still has the better name

Plus I bet it tastes better :P

[KamaAina]

13. Cocaine. It's the real thing.

Will Colbert get Robert Wexler back on and ask him "I enjoy Cocaine because..."?