Watchdog pulls plug on cannabis flavoured spirits

Tue, 4 Dec 2007

The Portman Group, the alcohol industry body, is removing three cannabis-flavoured drinks from shelves after complaints about the way they were packaged and marketed.

The move follows a complaint from a publican in Bristol about the Beveland SA products, Perigan's cannabis-flavoured gin, Iganoff cannabis-flavoured vodka and Rodnik's cannabis-flavoured absinthe. Each product features a picture representing a cannabis leaf on its label.

The independent complaints panel found that all three products breach the Portman Group's code of practice on the naming, packaging and promotion of alcoholic drinks due to their association with illicit drugs.

Retailers will now refuse to stock the Beveland drinks until their marketing is altered to comply with the code. The Portman Group's code of practice applies to pre-packaged alcoholic drinks and the promotional activities of drinks producers. It covers naming and packaging, websites, sponsorship, branded merchandise and other promotional activities.