Posted on 09/21/2006 8:26:54 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
Anti-drug campaigners today attacked the makers of a soft drink who have called their product cocaine.
The high-energy drink is being billed as a "legal alternative" to the class A drug, using a massive hit of caffeine instead of cocaine.
Its maker claims the title is "a bit of fun" but critics slammed the technique as a cynical ploy which could tempt young people into using drugs.
The drink's inventor, Jamie Kirby, said: "It's an energy drink, and it's a fun name. As soon as people look at the can, they smile."
He claims Cocaine is "350 percent stronger than Red Bull" but that people do not experience the "sugar crash" or jitters that he says some of the other energy drinks can produce.
But David Raynes, of the UK National Drug Prevention Alliance, said: "It is people exploiting drugs. It is a pretty cynical tactic exploiting illegal drugs for their own benefit."
Las Vegas-based drinks company Redux Beverages is producing the drink which contains 280 milligrams of caffeine. According to the company's website, the only way to get more caffeine per ounce is with an espresso.
Mr Raynes added: "The fact is that subliminally, it is making the image of drug use cool and that's what kids what to be, cool.
"Kids will be drinking Cocaine and will inevitably link the two. The drink is relatively innocuous, but they will be linking it with cocaine use and the market, which is far from innocuous."
Dr Charles O'Brien, a professor and vice chairman of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, said: "It's just a bad idea and has all the same downsides of too much caffeine plus a very bad name."
The company has received inquiries about selling Cocaine in Britain and throughout Europe. At the moment it is being sold only in the Los Angeles and New York metropolitan areas - mainly to teenagers.
stacy jones you've better watch your speed
(sniff) I don't (sniff) see what the (sniff) big issue (sniff) is...
casey stacy.....
Cops may switch to using this instead of the amped up coffee they already drink.
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie...
Understand me, I don't use any illicit drugs myself, anymore, but this is just plain bad marketing.
I read about another product this week called Celcius. Anybody hear about it?
The same "kids" who show their parents how to use a computer and go on-line.
Who gives a flying f* what they call it. It's not like "Coke" hasn't been around for years...
I doubt it. Most parents know how to use a PC and go online.
There may be a few grandpa's around that don't. Most places of employment, where parents work to support these kids, use PC's these days.
That's statement may of been true in the late 80's, but not now.
In the old days Coke had Cocaine in it...in fact you could buy it over the counter..cocaine..I have a couple of old bottle...empty of course
Exactly!
And the headline is misleading. I don't see where this new product claims to be "the real thing", since that would be A) stupid, and B) a probable copyright infringement on CocaCola's phrase.
Tempest in a teapot Coke bottle.
Ok. So how does it go along with donuts?
When my son graduated from a police academy the ceremonies were in the morning. For the brunch/party we told everybody to bring a dozen donuts. It wasn't until the third person's arrival that he got the joke. He couldn't stop laughing.
Bow-now-now-now, ba-da bow wow...
I aways thought "Coke" was stuff they pulled out of smelting furnaces at the steel mill. It's the same color, and just as acidic.
As a fan of the dead and Robert Hunter (the guy who wrote most of the lyrics for the Grateful Dead after 1970 or so), I have to correct the lyrics you posted. There is no "Casey Jones is ready, watch your speed" line anywhere in the song.
Casey Jones you better watch your speed.
http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/agdl/kcj.html
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