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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Call to ban Cocaine energy drink | Call to ban Cocaine energy drink |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The government is being urged to ban a high-energy drink called Cocaine, due to be launched in the UK this summer. | The government is being urged to ban a high-energy drink called Cocaine, due to be launched in the UK this summer. |
| Senior Labour MP Keith Vaz condemned the product, whose American manufacturers describe it as "a legal alternative" to the Class A drug. | Senior Labour MP Keith Vaz condemned the product, whose American manufacturers describe it as "a legal alternative" to the Class A drug. |
| He has tabled a Commons motion arguing the drink, said to "numb the throat to simulate the effects of taking cocaine", could glamorise drug-taking. | He has tabled a Commons motion arguing the drink, said to "numb the throat to simulate the effects of taking cocaine", could glamorise drug-taking. |
| Charity Drugscope accused Cocaine's makers of "cynical" marketing. | Charity Drugscope accused Cocaine's makers of "cynical" marketing. |
| Caffeine | Caffeine |
| Leicester MP Mr Vaz, who is chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, has submitted an early day motion, which says that "this House condemns the expected launch in the UK of the high-energy drink Cocaine later this summer". | |
| It adds that "the American firm which developed this drink sells it as the legal alternative to the Class A drug" and further notes that "it contains substances that numb the throat to simulate the effect of taking cocaine". | It adds that "the American firm which developed this drink sells it as the legal alternative to the Class A drug" and further notes that "it contains substances that numb the throat to simulate the effect of taking cocaine". |
| Cocaine is unavailable in Texas, following a dispute with the state's attorney general. | Cocaine is unavailable in Texas, following a dispute with the state's attorney general. |
| It contains more than three times the caffeine of rival energy drink Red Bull. | It contains more than three times the caffeine of rival energy drink Red Bull. |
| Cocaine's inventor, Jamie Kirby, has said that it has "a fun name", which makes people "smile". | Cocaine's inventor, Jamie Kirby, has said that it has "a fun name", which makes people "smile". |
| It will initially be marketed primarily on the internet, UK distributor Ocke Cokey has said. | It will initially be marketed primarily on the internet, UK distributor Ocke Cokey has said. |
| Drugscope's chief executive, Martin Barnes, said: "We welcome the discussion that is taking place around this product and share the concerns, particularly about what looks like a cynical and deliberately provocative marketing exercise. | Drugscope's chief executive, Martin Barnes, said: "We welcome the discussion that is taking place around this product and share the concerns, particularly about what looks like a cynical and deliberately provocative marketing exercise. |
| "We believe that the majority of young people will see through the marketing ploy, but the people selling this product are making light of an illegal drug that can cause considerable harms." | "We believe that the majority of young people will see through the marketing ploy, but the people selling this product are making light of an illegal drug that can cause considerable harms." |