Suck & Blow and Crunk Juce breach Portman Code

The Portman Group, which sets out the alcohol guidelines, found Suck & Blow promotes rapid drinking, appeal to children and suggested sexual success. The product is a tube which opens at both ends and is designed for one person to blow half the contents into another person’s mouth and vice versa.

The Independent Complaints Panel noted that the product would appeal particularly to under 18s due to the combination of the childish font, bright red and blue colours, and the novel design of the packaging. It also ruled the product name had clear connotations of sexual activity which linked the product with sexual success.

Crunk Juce was found to encourage irresponsible or immoderate consumption as one can contained 8.4 units – more than double the chief medical officers’ sensible drinking guidelines for men. The Panel also ruled that the alcoholic nature of the product was not made sufficiently clear on the product packaging.

Producers SAB Enterprises and Gila Brew Company have agreed to consult the Portman Group’s Advisory Service for guidance on appropriate changes.

A Retailer Alert Bulletin has been issued which instructs licensees and retailers not to place orders for the drinks in its current form after 31 March 2012.

Henry Ashworth, chief executive of the Portman Group, which provides the secretariat for the Independent Complaints Panel, said: “An alcohol product marketed in the UK has to comply with tough industry responsibility rules and it is not acceptable for products to encourage irresponsible consumption.

“I would urge all producers to contact the Portman Group first before launching a product here in the UK.”