Alcopops
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
An 'alcopop' is basically a fruit-flavoured, or otherwise soft drink with some form of alcohol added (usually vodka, white rum, or just plain chemical industry-produced ethanol)
The story of alcopops in the UK is a chequered one. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s as an alternative to bottled lager, they soon gained a notoriety for attracting children to the murky world of drunkenness. What the anti-alcopops brigade failed to notice was that children have been drinking alcohol for generations, usually cutting their teeth on beer, or more propably white cider. The only reason young people were converting to alcopops was the fact that they had added sugar, and tasted better to immature palates.
The most infamous brands (inasmuch as teenagers have been seen getting sloshed on them often) are Hooch and Bacardi Breezers. These are basic, over-sweetened drinks at around 5% - 5.5% alcohol. Most adults don't drink them as the high sugar content results in their teeth getting stuck together.
More 'up-market' brands (they can be bought, expensively for £2 and over, in pubs) are Martini Metz (schnapps based and very dry, 5.4%), Smirnoff Ice (a mix of vodka, water, sugar and lemon juice, 5.5%), and Bacardi Rigo (Bacardi white rum, water and a twist of lime, 5.5%). These have a more 'acceptable' image, mainly because you can taste the alcohol, which is not masked by 5 spoonfuls of sucrose.
Finally, there's Red Square, a high stimulant content drink which comes in silver (vodka based) and gold (vodka and tequila based) bottles. They taste similar to Red Bull (a popular caffeine-containing soft drink). Caution is advised with these, as drinking too much of them can result in especially bad hangovers. This is due to the conflicting contents of alcohol (a depressant) and caffeine ( a stimulant).
The story of alcopops in the UK is a chequered one. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s as an alternative to bottled lager, they soon gained a notoriety for attracting children to the murky world of drunkenness. What the anti-alcopops brigade failed to notice was that children have been drinking alcohol for generations, usually cutting their teeth on beer, or more propably white cider. The only reason young people were converting to alcopops was the fact that they had added sugar, and tasted better to immature palates.
The most infamous brands (inasmuch as teenagers have been seen getting sloshed on them often) are Hooch and Bacardi Breezers. These are basic, over-sweetened drinks at around 5% - 5.5% alcohol. Most adults don't drink them as the high sugar content results in their teeth getting stuck together.
More 'up-market' brands (they can be bought, expensively for £2 and over, in pubs) are Martini Metz (schnapps based and very dry, 5.4%), Smirnoff Ice (a mix of vodka, water, sugar and lemon juice, 5.5%), and Bacardi Rigo (Bacardi white rum, water and a twist of lime, 5.5%). These have a more 'acceptable' image, mainly because you can taste the alcohol, which is not masked by 5 spoonfuls of sucrose.
Finally, there's Red Square, a high stimulant content drink which comes in silver (vodka based) and gold (vodka and tequila based) bottles. They taste similar to Red Bull (a popular caffeine-containing soft drink). Caution is advised with these, as drinking too much of them can result in especially bad hangovers. This is due to the conflicting contents of alcohol (a depressant) and caffeine ( a stimulant).
