May 26 2006
Auckland Supermarket Sells Speed
posted by Steven Shaw at 10:57 am
NZ Customs may have stopped $135 million worth of crystal meth and pseudoephedrine from entering the country this week, but another speed shipment seems to have got through just fine.
The pictured Australian energy drink Speed is prominently displayed in a six-foot high stack at an Auckland supermarket. Exactly how socially responsible is the manufacturer, or the supermarket chain, in stocking this product when the country is struggling to get through a P “epidemic”?
The manufacturers are pushing their luck in naming their guarana-based drink “Speed”. Although obviously designed to do the same as their illegal namesake (albeit with less oomph) this is the first brand to be so direct about the link. Some of the more imaginative brands include Jet Up Action Fuel, Full Throttle and Xtazy Energy.
The Australian manufacturer has cleverly aligning itself with motor racing, sponsoring the Australian GT Championship and Porsche Drivers Challenge – a smokescreen covering the fact that they are strongly referencing speed the drug.
Last year the Australian Advertising Standards Board upheld a complaint against their television ad for reasons of health and safety outlined in the code. The complainant believed the ad promoted drug use and contradicted the government’s Drug Information Campaign.
The board said the television ad established strong references to drug use backed up by setting the ad in a nightclub (with cans bouncing off the walls to “oonst” beats).
“Our name relates to the performance of vehicles we sponsor and are proud to be associated [with],” says the advertiser, Australian Distribution Company. Yeah right.
So guess what? Looks like they’re trying to offload the product (3 cans for $2) in New Zealand.
We’d like to know what you reckon, so post a comment if you feel inclined.
May 30th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
pretty sure the same product was on the market 8(ish) years ago, in a wider, shorter can. blue, with a white curved line under the logo (simmilar to coke) that looked like a line of white powder.
brilliant stuff it was too.
July 18th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
where abouts is this being sold? it is so irresponsible. think about the little kiddies who will try it out thinking its orange juice or something. i mean come on!
February 4th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
What a bunch of wowsers! Really, it’s a joke, come on. And anyway, the truth (that the government won’t tell you) is that “P” is actually a lot less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. So why don’t you get in a tizz about those being sold at the supermarket eh?