Drink banned for glamoursing deadly drugs cocktail

Retailers are removing Speedball beer from sale because it is promoting a lethal and illegal drugs mix.

Shelves across the UK are being cleared of Speedball beer because it is promoting the illegal drugs mix that killed Hollywood stars John Belushi and River Phoenix.

The Independent Complaints Panel has upheld a complaint under the Portman Group’s Code of Practice brought by Alcohol Focus Scotland that the beer’s marketing is associated with illicit drugs.

Speedball is the name given to the potentially lethal practice of combining heroin and crack cocaine to give both sedative and stimulant effects.

The drink is marketed by its producer, BrewDog, as a “class A ale” containing “a vicious cocktail of active ingredients” which creates a “happy-sad” effect.

David Poley, Portman Group Chief Executive, said the drink’s marketing is grossly irresponsible:

“The blurring of alcohol and illicit drugs fosters unhealthy attitudes to drinking and trivialises drug misuse. BrewDog is profiteering from the scourge of illegal drugs, mocking the misery caused by misuse. The company is seriously misguided in its claim to be educating and preventing people from misusing drugs. We are taking urgent action to protect the public from exposure to such negligent marketing.”