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Illinois

As you may or may not have noticed, Attorney General Lisa Madigan scored a big PR success this week. It started with this press release…

Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Eric E. Whitaker today have demanded that all Illinois marketing and sales of the “Cocaine” energy drink immediately cease. The Attorney General has made the demand in a letter sent to California-based Redux Beverages, LLC, the manufacturer and distributor of the product.

“This is a product that glamorizes illegal drug use and it is highly irresponsible and reckless,” said Attorney General Madigan. “The State of Illinois will not tolerate its sale, especially to children.”

Advertisements for the drink describe it as the “legal alternative” to the street drug cocaine and promote the use of an ingredient in the drink that creates a burning sensation to simulate the throat-drip effect of using cocaine. The company is actively promoting the product and recently hosted a “Cocaine Energy Drink Launch Party” in Chicago.

The company then pulled the product off Illinois shelves…

An energy drink that it’s makers call “Cocaine” is no longer available in Illinois.

And then the company pulled it nationwide…

An energy drink called Cocaine that was pulled from store shelves in Illinois last week is being discontinued nationwide. The company that produces the drink said today it’s pulling the drink because of concerns about its name. Redux Beverages LLC of Las Vegas says the company will sell the drink under a new name for now.

I seriously doubt that anyone has any sympathy for a company that would do such a scummy thing as market a drink called “Cocaine,” and I also doubt anyone wants to promote the use of an illegal drug. Count me solidly in both of those categories.

But, all that aside, should government step in on stuff like this? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 9:46 am

Comments

Explain to me what “stuff like this” is? Did someone try to market “Heroin” crackers while I wasn’t looking?

Yes, we did ban candy-flavored cigarettes, as I recall, but that’s the closest case I can remember.

Let’s not move up or down the slippery slope. This is a unique case, and every case should be decided on its merits.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 9:55 am
I think we should get rid of Coca Cola next.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:00 am
I am glad it was the AG who did it - it is more credible coming out of her office - i certainly think it was right coming from government, the grass roots campaigns would have not had enough strenght, the parent groups etc wouldn’t have gotten as fast of action - personall i am glad it’s gone, it was a stupid product and who knows the damage along the lines it could have induced but glad we will never know - great job Lisa!

Comment by annoyed all the time Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:02 am
I wonder how many R and D guys they had working on duplicating the old ” burning throat drip” effect.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:11 am
http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2005/pot-sucker-sales-halted.html

The halt to the sale of those “pot suckers.” (marijuana tasting candy)

Comment by Shelbyville Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:15 am
I think that when it comes out again under a new name the ads will be able to say, “Buy the drink that was banned in Illinois.” The kids will flock to the stores for a taste of the formerly illicit beverage.

Comment by i d Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:16 am
1. Who cares about the name — let them market it any way they want.

2. Lisa Madigan went to far in banning it — what legal standing does she have?

3. I am more concerned with the dangerous amounts of caffeine and other substances in these drinks — the FDA should be making decisions on these drinks based on safety — not gimmicky marketing.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:20 am
Maybe it’s what the Blagojevich administration has be drinking for the past 4+ years. Lisa’s trying to let them down easy before all the indictments.

Comment by Can of Whoopass Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:24 am
Well, for the past 25 years our country has been involved in a “War on Drugs.” Congratulations, after a long long wait, the govenment has finally won a small battle. They have managed to take a caffine drink off the market because it shares a name with a drug. Well, when the goverment takes fake drugs off the shelves, there is only one alternative……

Comment by McGruff the Crimedog Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 10:32 am
I feel so much safer now! Thanks Lisa
Rod next?

Comment by Drowning Quicksand Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 11:01 am
Could the Lisa who may be a gubernatorial candidate next cycle being taking a leaf from Blago’s campaign book. Find a nice easy issue
that absolutely nobody can disagree with you on and hype it big time.

Not tackling the hard problems has certainly worked for Blago.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 11:10 am
Lisa picked it up after Aldermen Burke and Ocasio introduced a ban in Chicago City Council several weeks ago.

Comment by El Heck Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 11:23 am
The AG just sent a letter - right? The National Guard did not go store to store confiscating the drink bottles. [They’re probably in Iraq anyway.]

The company could have responded likewise. They could have pursued this through the legal process.

They pulled the product because they finally realized it was a poorly-chosen name.

I hope someone researches the story for a case study. The company must be run by dumb and dumber.

Comment by RBD Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 11:36 am
No, government should not. Just because someone wins an elected office doesn’t make them an expert in anything, despite what they think.

Let the market decide if there’s a public desire for a product like this.

Comment by Freedom Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 11:40 am
I agreed with Blago when he and the GA outlawed ephedra, which was a truly bad substance. Ephedra was a real threat to teens and college students.

However, banning an energy drink is not good policy. This is especially true of a ban based on the name. Energy drinks are bad for your BUT please note all of the legal uppers that are available at the gas station and GNC. Much of those products are a small step below ephedra. There are a lot of substances that cause problems for teens, but as a young guy who isn’t that far past his college years I can attest that energy drinks should be somwhat low on the government’s radar.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 11:55 am
I guess the answer to Rich’s question depends on the illegal drug in question. While I can not say that I promote the use of marijuana (It is much more carcinogenic than tobacco) it would be fair to say that I support its legalization. We waste far too much taxpayer money incarcerating people for possession of a drug that is arguably not any worse than alcohol and for which there is very little, if any, addictive property. The so-called war on drugs is a miserable failure.

Also, to be clear, the Illinois Green Party officially supports the legalization of marijuana. To quote, “We advocate a more sensible policy: Marijuana should be legalized, although its legal use should be restricted to adults. The penalties for simple possession and use of other drugs should be greatly reduced.” (See Section P at the platform link above for more information.)

Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 12:21 pm
Isnt there a perfume names Opium? Guess she can get that taken off the market next.

Comment by Sick Of It! Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 12:23 pm
I am glad that my tax dollars are hard at working protecting the public from an energy drink called Cocaine. The state budget might not be fixed, we still have to corruption here, our schools have problems, but at least we all rest good at night knowing we are safe from “Cocaine”

Comment by RMW Stanford Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 12:25 pm
Go Lisa - Way to step it up!
Tackling the tough issues, I see.
This is what we pay our tax dollars for?

Comment by Zzzzzzz! Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 1:39 pm
Sure it is free PR with little to no risk, but to insinuate that Lisa govern’s by press release, doesn’t tackle the hard or unsexy issues or has much in common with our Guv other than party is disingenuous and typical bitter-blogger rhetoric I think

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 2:06 pm
Sure it is free PR with little to no risk, but to insinuate that Lisa govern’s by press release, doesn’t tackle the hard or unsexy issues or has much in common with our Guv other than party is disingenuous and typical bitter-blogger rhetoric

Comment by Lisa Fan Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 2:07 pm
Just for clarification, is the song “Cocaine” banned as well? I would hate to have my iPod seized.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 6:51 pm
What if the drink was named “TYLENOL” would AGLM take issue with that?

How about “ASPIRIN”?

When the government minds its business on issues like these and focus on all the the corruptiveness that the children read about or see on the news, then the government is doing its job to protect the people.

A drink simply called “Cocaine” has no effect whatsoever on its purchase. And I’m almost positive that the company would not have sold more because of its name.

Big PR’s come when Lisa stops hiding…………..

Comment by What if?????????? Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 7:21 pm
I don’t want government regulating everything. Stop treating everyone like they are 5 years old. Most of us have common sense and we don’t need to be told right from wrong. Insulting…

Comment by Holdingontomywallet Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 9:00 pm
Lisa’s Legacy: Demanded that all Illinois marketing and sales of the â€œCocaineâ€ energy drink immediately cease. Wow!
Aren’t there more urgent matters in Illinois………..

Comment by Wags Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 9:03 pm
Thank you Lisa Madigan! A person in authority simply said “NO!” to something that is wrong. That’s what “leaders” are supposed to do. Please note this action Sen Jones. That’s why I respect her and not you.

Comment by Moline Male Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 9:29 pm
To answer the question, government overstepped its bounds this time. All that aside, here be some good Cocaine

Comment by Shadoobie Tuesday, May 8, 07 @ 11:39 pm
Government should not step in. Between the neo-cons and the limousine liberals we have become a pretty stale country. Liberties are usually not all yanked away, just a bit here and a bit here.

Comment by Gawd Wednesday, May 9, 07 @ 9:16 am