Brought to you by the makers of Coca Cola. A new Bounty Rum and Cola with 10 per cent alcohol by volume and a massive sugar hit. A great way to deal with problem drinking among the young and an explosion in the incidence of diabetes.
The liquor companies are obliged by law to carry the warning “Enjoy Responsibly”. But is it responsible to increase the alcohol content of beverages like this that are specifically targeted at young people?
Don’t ask for a 10. Ask Paradise Beverages why the hell they would think it is a good idea in the middle of an illicit drug crisis in Fiji to ramp up the alcohol content of another drug that happens to be legal.
“Taste the spirit of Fiji”? Yep. Alcoholism and amputations. That’s the spirit. Sure to be a hit among the already legless in the bars of Suva and Nadi.
Bula!
South Pacific Distillery, located in Lautoka Fiji, is a subsidy of Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Ltd , a CCEP owned company (Coca Cola Euro Pacific Partners)
From Wednesday’s Fiji Sun...
It’s worked perfectly keeping people drunk and uninformed.
Keep people numb
Keep people dumb
Keep people passive
Priority: Culture/ imports before citizens health
Sick people can’t fight like healthy people.
Government’s Low priority on employment = low personal responsibility and high chance of drugs and drinking.
A legal drug. That just about sums it up.
And the peddlers have weaved their way into the social fabric. (Naming rights and sponsorships)
Coke Games. Marist Rugby 7s. Sportsman’s Beer. It’s the Spirit of free Enterprise.
The Bitter truth.
The corporate marketers are making up for revenue loss in other product categories by introducing new products (RTDs) that target young people.
Profits over conscience.
Everything that is legal is not ethical.
I don’t drink it. (It’s not good for you). But I just sell it…and I want to sell lots of it. And I sponsor all these events. I employ so many people. It is part of our culture as athletes, sportsmen , real tough men and cool young chicks and dudes. And it’s legal. Drink responsibly – so you can keep on living and drinking $$$. That’s the spirit!
About time someone pointed out the bloody obvious…we know the damage both alcohol and sugar is doing to our population. Yet no measures have been put in place to combat this problem. These companies should not be allowed to advertise their products or sponsor any sporting events, specially any event that involves our kids. Beverages should be taxed according to it’s sugar and alcohol content… at least that’s my expectation from someone I vote for. But perhaps it’s too much to expect our not-so-honorable ministers and MPs to do anything about it…busy filling their pockets and satisfying their sexual desires.
That is certainly a high alcohol content for a single drink. I googled what we have available in NZ and Australia and the alcohol content is far lower than what is currently served in Fiji.
Who keeps a tab on alcohol level for these drinks?
Here is what NZ has. Not that it is the best and safest given NZ also has a growing binge alcohol culture and all the social problems that comea with alcohol abuse and addiction.
https://www.liquorland.co.nz/shop/ready-to-drink
I am appalled at how coke is consumed in Fiji.
People must know the harmful effects of coke and all sugar laden beverages and products given the high rates of NCDs in the country.
Coke has made to parts of the world well before vaccination did. It goes to show that ethical investment is always a 3rd or 4th thought in the list of priorities by Coke.
But then Fiji has Coca Cola Games.
Fiji also has Fiji Bitter rugby.
To play a bigger role in combating NCDs the government should ban alcohol and beverage companies from sponsoring any major events. Our society is suffering at the hands of these unethical corporations.
Yet we tout our sugar industry as if it’s God’s gift. Sugar is poison, why are we growing, consuming and exporting poison to the rest of the world.
The irony is Fiji sells sugar in order to generate income to buy food. Punja’s and C.J Patels have gotten rich by monopolising the food import business.
Food is the biggest part of our huge import bill.
We should be using the flat fertile lands currently under sugar cropping to grow our own foods that we currently import.
Food sovereignty should be our national target.
Alcoholism on top of already poor nutrition is a double whammy for the brain. Need the voters in a stupor.
A school canteen operator in Fiji mentioned that they were only permitted to sell low sugar drinks – it was legislation. And there was only a small range of juices in Fiji that met the criteria. These types of regulated consumer protection is essential – if left to the market to exercise its free choice, the profiteers would be laughing all the way to the bank in paradise land while leaving others in a hell of an unhealthy state.
Without naming famous Fiji iconic athletes, one just has to see the irony of who the peddlers of these legal drugs and sugar drinks are… former athletes who probably didn’t get their gold medals by getting drunk and stoned as a lifestyle yet market their products as Sportsman’s drinks, as tough real man drinks, as essential Fijian cultural and social lubricants. Shame and shame on these marketeers and dealers. And shame on the unwary who smile and are complicit in the deception and profiteering at the expense of the vunerable and exploitable.
Now imagine instead of alcohol, liquor and other drinks that get people drunk, people drank bottles of milk.
The developed world has moved away from alcohol and tobacco sponsorship. Less nicotine. No smoking zones. And away from high alcohol content mass market beers. Towards zero alcohol and low carb.
This means the corporate vultures target the vulnerable in the less developed countries with less stringent consumer protection regimes. And they engage in extensive sponsorship programmes, and they like big name events. Sponsorship : Veiled disguised corruption..
I am surprised that the corrupt unethical Fiji government has not already legalised marijuana and taxed the sales as fast legal money awaits.
They might as well. But first the PM wants to create a recognised revolution. He wants Pacific Island police training in Fiji.
What makes this stupid PM think that was a good suggestion worth it any attention!
He is so clueless and shameless.
Doesn’t even have a single consistency with Police Commissioner in place and still no permanent position filled.
Drugs are rife and so is the lack of competent police.
Tutu needs to get back home and look after his police clowns and now guard 10% alcohol shots amongst youth.
An absolute disaster. In a country with the highest rates of diabetes and amputations, are you kidding? What a brilliant idea eh: let’s give them rocket fuel – at 10% alcohol and heaps of sugar – to make them sicker quicker, increase the rates of domestic violence, diabetes, amputations, reduce productivity and life expectancy. All for the sake of some ill-gotten gains in profit and tax. Disgraceful.
Agree on this GD. Given the massive NCD problem, the makers of fizzy drinks, Macers, alcohol, tobacco, Maggi and chow noodles need to pay a higher rate of tax so that these things become too expensive for people.
Businesses need to be responsible too. Making a quick buck and leaving the taxpayers deal with the medical bills.
Bounty Rum is a Fiji product which is sold on the international market. Any fool with half a brain will tell you that if you deny it to Fiji citizens they will find an alternative. Would you prefer they drink methylated spirits ?
Any fool with half a brain? Amazing self awareness. Take 10 and have a good lie down. Your logic sucks.
Just like the Aboriginal community that you white fellas turn a blind eye to. They are entitled to their Bounty Rum as much as you. Cut the condescension.
Only someone especially twisted would make a connection with aborigines and methylated spirits. You have completely missed the point.