# Should flavored alcoholic beverages be banned? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 1, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952 "2010-05-01T07:44:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/21 "2010-05-02T00:19:37Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Strawberry wine, orange flavored vodka, berry flavored beer. All of these sweet, candy flavored alcoholic beverages can be appealing to minors and coax them into an early habit of drinking. Even though possession and use of liquor is illegal by those under 21 in most situations in the U.S., such flavors can mask the otherwise unpleasant taste and “burn” of alcohol and be appealing to the younger crowd. > > To protect our children from a lifetime of use and addiction to the vice of liquor, should flavored alcoholic beverages be banned in the U.S.? Would this include gin? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/22 "2010-05-02T00:23:20Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Strawberry wine, orange flavored vodka, berry flavored beer. All of these sweet, candy flavored alcoholic beverages can be appealing to minors and coax them into an early habit of drinking. Even though possession and use of liquor is illegal by those under 21 in most situations in the U.S., such flavors can mask the otherwise unpleasant taste and “burn” of alcohol and be appealing to the younger crowd. > > To protect our children from a lifetime of use and addiction to the vice of liquor, should flavored alcoholic beverages be banned in the U.S.? My first experiences with alcohol were with whiskey sours, martinis, and beer - all of which I liked despite a notable lack of “sweet, candy” flavors. In fact, I despise sweet alcohol and always have. Even before I was 21 (and I pre-date the “must be 21 to drink” rule) I enjoyed the “burn” and never found the taste unpleasant. I would think that people who found alcoholic “burn” and taste unpleasant just wouldn’t drink much, if at all. Some seem to like it from the get-go, or else acquire the taste for it awful darn fast. It’s not like you can stop kids from spiking orange juice or Kool-Aid anyhow. In short, I don’t think it’s sweet, candy-like flavors that attract kids to alcohol. I don’t think it’s what keeps them drinking alcohol. I don’t think it’s what makes alcoholics. Banning such things will do exactly nothing to combat problem drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/23 "2010-05-02T00:35:33Z")
I remember this same discussion happening when I was in high school - 16 or 17 years ago. I don’t think the number of teenage drunks has gone up (or down) since then…or that they typically drink the sweet drinks. Jager, cheap to mid-range beer, or cheap to mid-range vodka/rum/whiskey/etc are what I always saw…and while the last might be mixed with something sweet, it was generally mixed pretty strong (this is the prime ‘drink to get drunk’ age, after all), so the sweet drinks, being weak, wouldn’t be a popular choice. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/24 "2010-05-02T15:14:51Z")
No. My first hangover–and it was the kind where the hangover speaks to you and says, “ **I AM DEATH, THE DESTROYER OF PEOPLES** ”–came from vodka that I mixed with fruit punch. I’m sure the Young Alcoholics of America would figure out the recipe if pre-mixed were banned. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/25 "2010-05-02T21:32:05Z")
You will get my Brutal Fruit when you pry it from my …well, probably my limp, totally intoxicated hands, probably. Berrylicious FTW. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/26 "2010-05-03T13:35:45Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Won’t anyone think of the children? :rolleyes: Heh. I’m tired of thinking of the goddamn children all the time. If I wanted to think about children, I’d have children. 😛 > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > **pkbites** , am I correct in thinking this is really a thread about flavored cigarettes? I assume it is. I found those bans a little bizarre myself, although I understand the reasoning. And I suppose it’s harder to make your own sweetened cigarette than it is to sweeten your own alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/27 "2010-05-03T13:54:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Everyone knows that sweet-flavored high-alcohol drinks aren’t marketed to underaged drinkers. They’re marketed to college-aged men who are trying to get college-aged women drunk. And, pray tell me, what are us over-college-aged men supposed to use to get college-aged women drunk? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/28 "2010-05-03T14:02:15Z")
Roofies? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/29 "2010-05-03T14:05:01Z")
> [@villa](#): > > And, pray tell me, what are us over-college-aged men supposed to use to get college-aged women drunk? Expensive wine. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/30 "2010-05-03T14:20:51Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > But seriously, that pear vodka is nasty. I’m okay with banning it. Any kind of adulterated wine, too. Because it’s nasty and low-class, not because of anything kids might do. And we DEFINITELY need to ban sweet kosher wines. Pfoo! We need a [Reinheitzgebot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot) for wine. An updated one for beer might be good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/31 "2010-05-03T16:03:44Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > But seriously, that pear vodka is nasty. I’m okay with banning it. Amen. If you want a fruit-flavored vodka, the only acceptable way to get there is to dump a bunch of vodka and a bunch of fruit in a large jug, and wait. Now _that_ can be good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/32 "2010-05-03T16:09:09Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > **pkbites** , am I correct in thinking this is really a thread about flavored cigarettes? > [@Marley23](#): > > I assume it is. I found those bans a little bizarre myself, although I understand the reasoning. How? The explanation behind the flavored cigarette ban is that children may want to try them. Using that “reasoning” anything not made for children would also have to be banned including regular cigarettes, automobiles, R-NC-X rated movies, and yes, flavored alcoholic beverages. I haven’t smoked cigarettes in almost 20 years. But to think that as an adult in an alleged “free” country I can’t buy flavored cigarettes because some kid might also want to try them is asinine. In one line you state you’re tired of thinking of the goddamn children all the time. In the next you say you understand the reasoning behind such ludicrous affronts to our liberties. How? ---
**Author:** ![kingbighair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kingbighair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingbighair)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/33 "2010-05-03T16:19:52Z")
Sure, if you can show a company intentionally produces and markets its product to children. Otherwise, a blanket ban is incredibly overbroad and antithetical to a free society. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/34 "2010-05-03T16:21:08Z")
Why don’t we ban Twinkies? They are sweet and get children hooked on something that can give them Type II diabetes. The sweetness masks the taste of things like sorbic acid (yuk!) and whey (pretty gross!) and polysorbate 60 (😕). ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/35 "2010-05-03T16:28:21Z")
> [@kingbighair](#): > > Sure, if you can show a company intentionally produces and markets its product to children. No, then the manner in which the product is marketed is changed. It’s a moot point anyway as minors cannot legally obtain such products anyway. Car companys routinely run commercials showing kids sitting comfortably and having a great time in a mini van. I don’t hear of any efforts to ban those because some kid might want to jump behind the wheel and go for a spin. But back to the OP. If the ban on fruit flavored cigarettes is reasonable to protect children, why wouldn’t a ban on fruit flavored liquor be just as reasonable? I can see no difference. ---
**Author:** ![kingbighair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kingbighair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingbighair)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/36 "2010-05-03T16:34:52Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > No, then the manner in which the product is marketed is changed. It’s a moot point anyway as minors cannot legally obtain such products anyway. Car companys routinely run commercials showing kids sitting comfortably and having a great time in a mini van. I don’t hear of any efforts to ban those because some kid might want to jump behind the wheel and go for a spin. You are correct. I was thinking about it from a criminal conspiracy angle, which has nothing to do with banning because of a certain flavor. ---
**Author:** ![JocoseBanter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@JocoseBanter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JocoseBanter)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/37 "2010-05-03T16:37:02Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > it’s not like someone started selling, say, teddy bears with unscrewable heads and vodka bottle stuffing. Someone needs to market this immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/38 "2010-05-03T16:43:23Z")
> [@villa](#): > > And, pray tell me, what are us over-college-aged men supposed to use to get college-aged women drunk? Ferraris. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/39 "2010-05-03T16:46:47Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > In one line you state you’re tired of thinking of the goddamn children all the time. In the next you say you understand the reasoning behind such ludicrous affronts to our liberties. How? I can understand the reasoning (“the cigarettes are sweet and appeal to children”) without supporting it. I think it’s stupid. Even stranger from my perspective are bans on products like low-tar cigarettes, which - even if they were marketed deceptively - were supposed to be less awful than the alternative. It’s like the government saying ‘if you’re going to smoke, we want you to smoke the most carcinogenic thing out there.’ I can’t imagine that did a lot of good. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952/40 "2010-05-03T17:21:49Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > To protect our children from a lifetime of use and addiction to the vice of liquor, should flavored alcoholic beverages be banned in the U.S.?. That’s a bit of a loaded OP, isn’t it? You could equally say that these drinks should be encouraged because they can also be used to educate people how to drink responsibly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952.md?page=3)