Outrage unleashed! Why is this new drink causing such a stir?
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Recently, a new type of alcoholic beverage caused quite an uproar.
What is this drink, you ask? It turns out that there's an alcoholic version of Solo, one of Australia's most popular lemon-lime soda brands.
The decision to introduce this new adult beverage to the market unleashed a wave of protests from many who voiced concerns that it could become a favourite for underage drinkers.
The brewing concerns prompted a complaint from the Cancer Council of Western Australia to the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC), arguing that the alcoholic version of Solo goes against the code's section prohibiting drinks from having 'strong and evident appeal’ to minors.
Alcohol companies agree to follow this mandatory code by themselves when marketing their products, and a recent update was made on August 1st in response to rising worries about promoting alcoholic products that use soft drinks and lolly flavours.
It is worth noting that there are no fines or penalties for code breaches.
Asahi, the manufacturer of Hard Solo, pointed out that their cans and advertising are 'distinctively black', thus making it hard to confuse with the original lemon squash drink.
Furthermore, they explained that they received the mandatory pre-vetting from ABAC before launching the new variety of Hard Solo.
But despite Asahi's assurances, many are still worried and suspicious that the marketing targets a young demographic–as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of views of taste reviews on social media, where many of the blind taste testers commented on how hard it is to distinguish the alcoholic flavour from the soft drink.
These fears have been shared by the CEO of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education Caterina Giorgi, who is worried that such marketing efforts might target the youth.
'It's a taste and a product that people are familiar with, including young people, and so they're really trying to cash in on that particular market,' she said.
Each 375ml can of Hard Solo contains 4.5 per cent alcohol content, which breaks down to around 1.3 standard drinks.
Members, it's always important to be mindful of what you're consuming, regardless of the product or where you purchased it. The SDC team strongly advises everyone to be aware and drink in moderation. When consuming adult beverages, remember to savour the flavour responsibly!
What do you think of the new Hard Solo drink, dear members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What is this drink, you ask? It turns out that there's an alcoholic version of Solo, one of Australia's most popular lemon-lime soda brands.
The decision to introduce this new adult beverage to the market unleashed a wave of protests from many who voiced concerns that it could become a favourite for underage drinkers.
Alcohol companies agree to follow this mandatory code by themselves when marketing their products, and a recent update was made on August 1st in response to rising worries about promoting alcoholic products that use soft drinks and lolly flavours.
It is worth noting that there are no fines or penalties for code breaches.
Asahi, the manufacturer of Hard Solo, pointed out that their cans and advertising are 'distinctively black', thus making it hard to confuse with the original lemon squash drink.
Hard Solo and Solo Original Lemon side by side.Credit: The Grand Halls Gap/Facebook
Furthermore, they explained that they received the mandatory pre-vetting from ABAC before launching the new variety of Hard Solo.
But despite Asahi's assurances, many are still worried and suspicious that the marketing targets a young demographic–as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of views of taste reviews on social media, where many of the blind taste testers commented on how hard it is to distinguish the alcoholic flavour from the soft drink.
'It's a taste and a product that people are familiar with, including young people, and so they're really trying to cash in on that particular market,' she said.
Each 375ml can of Hard Solo contains 4.5 per cent alcohol content, which breaks down to around 1.3 standard drinks.
Members, it's always important to be mindful of what you're consuming, regardless of the product or where you purchased it. The SDC team strongly advises everyone to be aware and drink in moderation. When consuming adult beverages, remember to savour the flavour responsibly!
What do you think of the new Hard Solo drink, dear members? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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