Pubdate: Mon, 02 Oct 2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2006 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Dave Newbart, Staff Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

IT'S LEGAL, BUT COCAINE COULD STILL BE HARD TO FIND

"Cocaine" isn't for sale in Chicago area stores just yet, but some 
local beverage purveyors say they won't stock it if it does become available.

The controversial energy drink recently debuted in New York and 
California. The drink maker's Web site claims it will soon be 
available online via Amazon.com.

Several Chicago bars and clubs contacted over the weekend said they 
had no plans to stock the drink.

Tammy Tatos, owner of Gold Crown Liquors, 3425 N. Clark, said, "I 
wouldn't buy it. It doesn't sound good."

Marissa Arredondo, a manager of Sam's Wines and Spirits at 1720 N. 
Marcey, said the drink could upset some customers.

"We do have families come in and shop," she said. "They would be offended."

In addition to the provocative name, Cocaine promises an "instant 
rush" with "no crash." It contains more caffeine than a Starbucks 
Grande coffee, and nearly three times as much as the most popular 
energy drink, Red Bull.

Glamorizes Addictive Drug

In some news accounts, officials with Redux Beverages in Las Vegas, 
which makes the drink, were quoted as saying Cocaine numbs the throat 
in order to produce an oral sensation like cocaine does. Company 
officials in Las Vegas couldn't be reached for comment.

Joseph A. Califano, president of the National Center on Addiction and 
Substance Abuse at Columbia University, said Redux "should be ashamed 
of creating and marketing an insidious product."

Noting that 1 million people use the drug cocaine weekly in the 
United States, he said in a statement, "Putting a product on the 
market that glamorizes an illegal and addictive drug like cocaine is 
irresponsible and reprehensible."

While the drink has only been available for a short time, the company 
claims its Web site, drink cocaine.com, received 6.7 million hits in 
its first week.

On the drink's MySpace profile, visitors wondered when the drink 
would be more widely available.

One person named Madeline asked when "is this coming to Chicago[?] 
[E]verybody at my school wants a can!"
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