There was a time when you could walk into a restaurant and, if you were under the age of 12, the man behind the cash register would hand you a candy cigarette for free. Or you could stop by your local convenience store and enjoy a pretzel cigar. Or you could sit in a lounge with your parents and drink a kiddie cocktail or two.
But in the age of gummie bears, those treats are considered to be politically incorrect. Why? Because people have been conditioned to recognize that smoking and drinking in excess can be harmful. Serving pseudo-drinks or fake cigars to youngsters seems irresponsible.
But there’s a difference: cigarettes and alcohol are legal products. Cocaine is not. Not only are the makers of this new beverage running the risk of promoting narcotics use—they’re also giving a wink to breaking the law.
Dr. Charles O’Brien, vice chairman of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying, “It’s just a bad idea and has all the same downsides of too much caffeine plus a very bad name.”
Right now, Cocaine the drink is only available in the New York and Los Angeles areas. The main customers: teenagers.
Parents, be worried. Be very worried.
Nathan Tabor is the founder and owner of The Conservative Voice. He writes a weekly column, regularly appears on radio, and his book on the evils of the United Nations, The Beast on the East River, has just been published by Thomas Nelson. Nathan received his BA in psychology from St. Andrews Presbyterian College and his MA in public policy from Regent University.