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Drank Soda Promises It's The Anti-Red Bull

Drink Offers Relaxation With Valerian Root, Rose Hips, Melatonin

Aug 8, 2009 Sara Churchville

Promising "extreme relaxation" and exhorting users to "slow your roll," this violet-colored concoction definitely has one thing going for it: genius marketing.

One thing the new Drank “extreme relaxation beverage” does not bill itself as is what it, in fact, is: a soda.

The carbonated drink, produced by Houston’s Innovative Beverage Group Inc., is purple and tastes primarily like a vitamin-doctored grape soda. It's available, or soon will be, at your local 7-Eleven.

Its claims of relaxation—the marketing materials say it’s been described as “liquid pot” and is favored by the hip-hop community, including (aptly?) Ludacris—are by any definition greatly exaggerated.

What's in a Can of Drank?

Consider the ingredient list for a 16-oz can: water, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, citric acid, natural flavor (presumably this is the grape taste, though what grape naturally tastes like grape soda?), 120 g of sodium citrate, potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, 40 mg of vitamin B3, 20 mg of vitamin B5, valerian root extract, rose hips extract, 4 mg of vitamin B6, red 40, melatonin, blue 1, and 12 mcg of vitamin B12.

Warning: Drank's Claims May Cause Laughter

Ludicrously, the can (remarkably, the soda is a matching shade of blue 1, red 40, aka “purple”) includes the following FDA-friendly note:

“WARNING: This product may cause drowsiness. Not recommended more than 2 servings within a 24-hour period.”

Presumably, the extracts of valerian root and rose hips, coupled with the melatonin, will send drinkers into a fugue state from which their only hope of recovery is a can of ... Red Bull.

In reality, however, the 54 grams of high fructose corn syrup and sucrose (the combo of glucose and fructose more commonly known as “sugar”), not to mention the generous portions of B vitamins, will more than vitiate the effects of whatever trace amounts of soothing herb are to be found within. This is, after all, a cola.

But it’s a fun cola, with a fun marketing team whose gimmicks have already garnered coverage from The New York Times Magazine, Time, and Playboy.

Like what will likely be its prime competitor—Red Bull—Drank is essentially a mixer in search of a spirit. A good bet to combine with its grape overtones is rum; vodka—not so much. And at 220 calories per 16-oz can, it has the exact same calorie and carb ratio that Red Bull has.

All that’s missing is the caffeine, and who can say? In this frantic world, maybe cutting out the caffeine is all it takes to “slow your roll.” But a little rum sure can’t hurt.

The copyright of the article Drank Soda Promises It's The Anti-Red Bull in Beer, Cocktails & Beverages is owned by Sara Churchville. Permission to republish Drank Soda Promises It's The Anti-Red Bull in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Grape Violet Drank