Drank (soft drink)
Marketed as an 'Anti-Energy' drink with the slogan 'Slow Your Roll'.
Drank is a soft drink marketed as an 'Anti-Energy' beverage, intended to promote relaxation rather than provide stimulation. It contains melatonin, rose hip, and valerian root as active ingredients. The product's slogan is 'Slow Your Roll'.
Quick Facts
- Introduced
- January 2008
- Manufacturer
- Innovative Beverage Group
- Location of manufacturer
- Houston, Texas
- New flavor introduced
- Island Time
- Year new flavor introduced
- 2012
Facts from the source article.
Introduction and availability
Drank first hit the market in January 2008, made by Innovative Beverage Group out of Houston, Texas. It quickly became a common sight in convenience stores and sold well. A second flavor called Island Time arrived in 2012, but it didn't catch on. With both flavors struggling, the drink vanished from shelves by 2013. The brand was bought by Source Financial Group LLC in 2014, which brought it back but with much narrower distribution. Today, you can only buy Drank online or at a handful of stores in Houston, Texas, and Saginaw, Michigan.
Controversy
Critics have warned that Drank and similar store-bought drinks could lead young people toward the dangerous homemade drug mixture known as lean, which is made from cough syrup. Speaking at a 2010 mental health conference, University of Texas researcher Ronald Peters accused the company of borrowing lean's name to target youth. He called the beverage the most troubling product he had encountered since candy cigarettes.
Effects on health
Doctors caution that the herbal mix in Drank and drinks like it can cause drowsiness and sedation, a risky effect when mixed with alcohol, antidepressants, or other medications. Neurologist Gregory Carter of UT Southwestern told the Dallas Morning News that the drink’s dissolved melatonin is potent enough to bring on sleepiness quickly. He noted the valerian content likely isn’t strong enough to have a major impact. However, valerian has been linked to possible liver damage, as it may be hepatotoxic.
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