Feeling a little stressed out lately?
A controversial new non-alcoholic beverage that takes its name from a street drug is on sale now in the Beaches area.
The makers of a new drink believe they have created the solution for your problems.
"Drank" is a new beverage that has recently made its way into area convenience stores along the Beaches. Taking a different approach to the growing energy drink market, this drink doesn’t claim to give you energy at all. In fact, this drink is marketed as a relaxation beverage.
The non-alcoholic, lightly carbonated beverage contains melatonin, valerian root and rose hips, which the manufacturer claims provide an extreme relaxing effect.
"Drank" recently partnered with distributor Anheuser-Busch and Jacksonville based North Florida Sales to bring the beverage to 11 counties in Northeast Florida, including Duval and St. Johns.
"We are pioneering an entirely new category within the functional soft drink market, a market with a forecast to continue growing over the coming five years," said Peter Bianchi, CEO of Innovative Beverage Group. "The alternative beverages segment remains a clear winner, and with the added vision of North Florida Sales, we are looking forward to expanding our base of brand-conscious and loyal consumers in North Florida."
"Drank" is a play on "Purple Drank" a recreational drug popular within the hip-hop community. The main ingredient in "Purple Drank" is prescription strength cough syrup containing the drugs codeine and promethazine. This cough syrup is then mixed with Sprite.
Although the commercial "Drank" beverage does not contain these ingredients, it has not been without controversy. Critics have referred to the beverage as "Weed in a Can" and claim the herbal combination is dangerous.
According to WebMD, melatonin — an ingredient in "Drank" — is a hormone that is produced by the brain to regulate sleep. Changes in blood vessels, lowering of the body’s temperature, stomach problems, morning grogginess and vivid dreams are all side effects listed by WebMD. Valerian root, another ingredient in "Drank" can rarely cause an abnormal heartbeat, according to WebMD. "Because of valerian’s calming effect, you should not take it at the same time as other calming medicines or antidepressants," cautions WebMD.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not require warning information about possible health risks, nor does it regulate the ingredients in the products.
Still, the maker stands by "Drank" as being a safe beverage to "Slow Your Roll."
June 20th 2009 - 2:00PM