Cocaine on sale to kids

BEN WATSON/North Shore Times

FOR SALE: Cocaine energy drink is being sold on the North Shore.

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A number of North Shore children can now say they’ve tried Cocaine.

The controversial energy drink named after the class A drug is for sale in a Milford dairy, accessible to hundreds of primary and secondary students at nearby schools.

The drink, imported by Wize Marketing, comes with a warning: "This message is for the people who are too stupid to recognise the obvious. This product does not intend to be an alternative to an illicit street drug, and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot."

The company’s former director Geoff Percy drew criticism last June with his plans to import the drink which originally contained more than three times the legal amount of caffeine.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority standard for formulated caffeinated beverages sets the upper limit of caffeine at 320mg per litre, or 80mg per 250ml. Cocaine originally contained 280mg in each 250ml can.

The safety authority’s communications manager Gary Bowering says the product on the market now has been tested and meets the requirements of the authority’s standard code.

Mr Bowering says it appears to have been reformulated to meet the standards.

"There are a few products out there that have the same level of caffeine," he says.

Shakespeare Rd’s Lake View Superette manager Naresh Patel has stocked Cocaine drinks since November.

He says it was the most popular energy drink sold over the Christmas, New Year period.

The drink’s name didn’t play a part in his decision to stock it, he says.

"The taste is the major selling factor over the name."

But Mr Patel says he is concerned by the number of 14 and 15-year-olds choosing to buy it.

"That’s wrong. But the can says anyone can drink it."

Westlake Girls High School year 13 student Bek Harwood bought a V energy drink from the superette while the North Shore Times was there.

She says she hasn’t tried Cocaine, the drink, because she thinks the name is "stupid".

Her friend Juliet Hawksworth says the name is confusing.

"When people say they’ve tried Cocaine, I think of the drug."

Juliet says "It’s making something casual out of something that shouldn’t be taken so lightly".

But the pair say they don’t think it’s irresponsible of stores to stock the drink.

"Selling expired goods is less responsible," says Juliet.

- © Fairfax NZ News