NPR: You Can't Print That on a Soda Bottle

You Can't Print That on a Soda Bottle

A Las Vegas-based beverage company has changed the name of a new product because of pressure from the Food and Drug Administration. Redux Beverages LLC, maker of the Cocaine Energy Drink, said its drink -- which contains lots of caffeine but no cocaine -- will get a new name, but the company will continue to fight to use "Cocaine" as a retail name.

"Obviously, we were forced to stop shipping the drink as 'Cocaine' for now, but we're not done fighting for our rights," said Jamey Kirby, founder of Redux, who added that a new name and label would be offered in the coming weeks.
"We've received tens of thousands of e-mails and phone calls from consumers expressing outrage and disbelief that the government can ban a perfectly safe product for no reason other than it has a racy name."

Kirby, rather tongue-in-cheek, noted that his company was trying to reach Yves Saint Laurent to warn him that his well-known perfume, Opium, might be in trouble.

So if you can't use a word like cocaine, will the FDA or some other government organization soon send out notices to any company whose name includes snow, horse, blow or any of the other drug terms you might find here?

6:00 PM ET | 05- 9-2007 | permalink

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