Tuesday, April 26, 2011

8739: Pabst Not Having A Blast.


The Boombox reported that Pabst Brewing Company is under fire for its new Colt 45 Blast being hawked by Snoop Dogg. Shocking. So far, attorney generals in 17 states are asking that the malt liquor manufacturer reduce the alcohol content of the drink. Reduce the alcohol content? Do these guys understand the basic concept behind malt liquor?

Regardless, Pabst Brewing Company is displaying its cultural cluelessness—both in having created the product and in reacting to the protests. “It’s not like our distributors are putting it in the soda section, and these are clearly designated as an alcoholic product,” insisted Pabst owner Daren Metropoulos. “We’re not going to be showing up and selling this at schools or anything like that.” Note to Metropoulos: Being sarcastic in this scenario makes you look like an insensitive racist. Just saying.


ATTORNEY GENERALS CONDEMN SNOOP DOGG’S COLT 45 DRINK

By Theo Bark

Snoop Dogg is once again under fire for Blast by Colt 45, a new alcoholic beverage he endorses.

According to reports, the attorney generals in 17 states are asking that parent company Pabst Brewing Company reduce the alcohol content of the drink, which they claim promotes misuse by underage drinkers, and binge drinking, due to its colorful packaging and endorsement by Snoop.

“Alcohol abuse among young people is a serious and alarming epidemic,” explained Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. “A product like this only serves to glamorize alcohol abuse and promote binge drinking, threatening the safety of those consuming it.”

Blast has been referred to as a “binge-in-a-can” by Madigan’s office, and compared to similarly controversial caffeine and malt liquor drink Four Loko.

Available in a variety of fruit flavors, Blast contains 12 percent alcohol and is sold in a 23.5 ounce can with eye-catching labels said to look like bubble gum wrappers. Snoop has also been criticized by “alcohol industry watchdog” the Marin Institute for his endorsement of the drink.

“It’s not like our distributors are putting it in the soda section, and these are clearly designated as an alcoholic product,” Pabst owner Daren Metropoulos said, defending his new brand. “We’re not going to be showing up and selling this at schools or anything like that.”

Snoop has yet to comment on the latest round of criticism.

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