The controversial energy drink brand, Naughty Boy, the advertising for which suggests it contains opium, has been banned by Australian authorities while investigations are carried out.
Health Secretary, Trish Worth, said that the drink would be banned until tests were carried out to determine if it contained any illegal drugs. “I am shocked that any legitimate food manufacturer would consider making a product that claimed to contain opium,” Worth said, adding that the manufacturers would be prosecuted under drugs laws if the drink was found to contain traces of opium.
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However, the manufacturers of Naughty Boy say the drink contains only opium poppy seeds which would not be illegal. However the drink, which also contains ginseng, gingko and caffiene, is marketed as “Energy with Opium”. And that could mean, says Worth, that if no opium traces are found the manufacturers could be referred to the consumer watchdog for running misleading advertising.
The Naughty Boy drink brand, being promoted as a non-alcoholic drink with nutrients for a safe and legal high, was scheduled to hit shops soon.
Even though the brandowners have insisted that the ingredients comply with regulations, authorities were immediately concerned about the fact that it is being marketed as containing opium. The office of Federal Health Minister, Kay Patterson, confirmed earlier this week that Naughty Boy was being investigated for marketing the drink in a way which links it to drug use.
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