Misleading & Confusing Packaging
When is a “spiked” drink alcoholic?
It depends on the manufacturer. For Coca-Cola products like Simply Lemonade, it DOES contain alcohol, but for Pepsi products like Mountain Dew, “spiked” does NOT contain alcohol (while “hard” does).
That’s confusing! For parents, for kids and even some shopkeepers who have mixed up the products on the shelves.
The beverage market has seen an explosion of Ready to Drink (RTD) pre-made/mixed alcoholic beverages in brightly colored cans with youth-appealing names (like Hard Mountain Dew, Vizzy, and Cotton Candy Swirl). RTDs closely resemble the look and appeal of familiar sodas, seltzers and energy drinks.
RTDs are a way to introduce younger kids to an array of trendy alcoholic drinks that are cheap, sweet, heavily flavored and hide the taste of alcohol. Some teens may be attracted to RTDs as a way to hide alcohol use from their parents.
Globally RTDs are a $32 billion dollar market that is quickly expanding beyond spiked lemonades and hard Kombuchas to frozen cocktail ice pops and alcohol-infused ice creams and whip shots. In addition, RTDs boast “health” claims such as low calorie/carbs, zero/reduced sugar, organic, immunity boosting, and anti-inflammatory.
Know what your kids are drinking – look at labels carefully!
- Next time you shop, check out the soda and alcohol aisles and look where the Ready to Drink products are located.
- Are they near kid-friendly products?
- Are they in a different aisle from other alcohol products?
- If you notice something, be proactive by taking a photo and emailing it to the Illinois Liquor Commission. They want to know!
Source: Prevention First
