Bar Debuts Drink Called “Date Grape Kool-Aid,” Outrage Inevitably Ensues

This is just some other purple drink. (DailyM = Differentieel + JeeeM)

There are some serious topics you can joke about: Life’s unavoidable death sentence? Hilarious. The frailty of man in the face a cold and unforgiving universe? Knee-slapping good fun. But naming a drink after the very serious, unfunny subject of date rape? Nope. Tell that to a bar in Spokane, Wa., where a new “Date Grape Kool-Aid” drink is now on the menu.

If this was just a publicity stunt to promote a new bar, well then consider yourself publicized, bar owners. But since the drink list was posted last Friday, critics have been calling the drink out for making light of what is a very serious problem, reports WXYL, with one group starting a Facebook page to boycott the bar.

Women who have been victims of rape and others against the questionable name have called for the bar to change the name, but the owner says the name is here to stay.

Not only that, but the bar reportedly bragged about selling 10 gallons of the drink on the same night protesters showed up to rally against the drink and ask for an apology.

The bar’s Facebook page posted an explanation that those who are upset, pointing to an Urban Dictionary definition of “Date Grape” as its inspiration, writing with the link, “For The Protesters, you simply had it all wrong.. now if you want to go into the technical debate about what a grape or wine is.. then your stretching way to far.. for the record here is a Urban Dictionairy:”:

Date Grape

When you and your loved one get drunk off of wine and end up hooking up.

Molly and I got drunk at Wine Bar last night. We went home and Date Graped eachother.

One Facebook commenter notes: “You actually used Urban Dictionary as a reputable source? That’s cute. Can we also start quoting five year olds as factual evidence?”

While the bar maintains that the rest of us just aren’t getting the joke, Kraft, which makes Kool-Aid, is not pleased about its product being used in such a drink.

“We at Kraft are appalled. Kool-Aid does not support or condone this drink, and it finds its name to be highly insensitive to a serious issue. This blatant misuse of the Kool-Aid trademark is offensive to so many, including us, and we are making it our top priority to address the situation ASAP,” said Kraft in a statement.

“Date Grape Kool-Aid” sparks outrage [WXYL.com]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist