Aug 20, 2008 7:48 pm US/Eastern
Anti-Energy Drink 'Drank' To Hit NYC Shelves
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The new soda drink "Drank" promises to "slow your roll." But some people are questioning whether it's good for you.
CBS
A new soft drink popular in the south is about to land on store shelves in New York. It's resemblance to a popular homemade drink made with codeine, however, has some people concerned.
It's purple, bubbly, and supposed to relax you. It's the soda drink called "Drank" and it contains melatonin, rose hip extract, and valerian root which is meant to calm and "slow your roll."
"Kind of tastes like watered down Kool-Aid," one New Yorker told CBS 2.
"I'm not sure what it tastes like, but it tastes good," said another.
"Drank's" creator, Peter Bianchi, admits his product resembles the homemade concoction "Purple Drank," a mixture made with prescription strength cough syrup containing codeine and promethazine and popularized by hip-hop culture.
That drink has been linked to the 2000 death of Houston music personality DJ Screw. In fact, his death increased the drink's notoriety among young adults.
"This is giving you a positive alternative that there is something out there on the forefront that's healthy for kids," said Bianchi.
But even though "Drank" doesn't contain codeine or any other narcotic, that doesn't mean it's 100 percent safe to drink.
"A person may not know any underlying conditions they may have, reasons behind this. If it interferes with a simple vitamin they might be taking," said Caroline Bohl, a nutritionist at New York Presbyterian Hospital. "The fact that it also contains a warning should be a little concerning to people too."
"Drank" will be on shelves in New York in the next two to three days. It will be distributed by "Good O" beverage company, which is headquartered in the Bronx.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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