Talk:Alcopop

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removed from article: "Remarkably, other sweet, alcoholic beverages that had been around for years escaped this madness."

What distinguishes alcopops from older beverages is the way they have been surreptitiously marketed toward teenagers. not that teen drinking is a new problem -- but in my day gin etc tasted so damn foul it took a really determined effort to get wasted ... ;-) -- Tarquin 12:38 Aug 20, 2002 (PDT)

I'm not sure whether "alcopop" is cutsier than the US term "malternative," but the latter seems more self-consciously marketese. --Calieber 16:21, Oct 31, 2003 (UTC)

I'm from the US , and I've never heard the term "alcopop" or "malternative" ever in my life. I guess it's a GB thing, and frankly the article should reflect that. In my opinion, this article doesn't really warrant inclusion in the Alcoholic Beverage template as it is a limited regional word. Secondly, it sounds like something MADD would make up while screaming about the children confused by this horrible evil.130.13.20.67 (talk) 22:01, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

Do we really need all of the random links to unrelated pages, such as Sweet, Bottles, Germany, United Kingdom? I thinks these links are overkill. Just because it can be linked to, doesn't mean it should. --Andy-106 14:34, 11 August 2005 (UTC)

Chick Drink is used in the U.S. as well (at least in New England)

Contents

[edit] German Excise Tax

The tax Germany has put on coolers seems more aimed at protecting thier beer industry than discouraging underage drinking.

[edit] Zima

You know, I remember Hooch (I think you can still get it) and Two Dogs, but I can't honestly recall ever hearing of a drink called "Zima"! Gin Zing, now that stuff was nice. Like ginger beer :) IainP [[User_talk:IainP|(talk)]] 12:05, 15 November 2005 (UTC) (sorry about dodgy signature... apparently it's a system problem)

Zima is very much a U.S. phenomenon. Until a few years ago they were advertising the hell out of that swill. I see it in any alcohol-selling establishment. You can call me Al 21:14, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
It's something that struck me about this article; I see "alcopop" (the term, as such) as pretty much a UK phenomenon. After all the U.S. has had Boone's Farm since at least the 1970s and never mentioned the genre as a fad. I wonder if any U.S.-only drinks even qualify for this article. Themadchopper 05:41, 31 March 2006 (UTC)
Anti-alcohol groups in the US, such as The Center for Science in the Public Interest, also use the term "alcopops." See, for example, Alcopops, Calories & Weight Gain.David Justin 00:46, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Alcopop

Where is the name Alcopop used? It's not a common term in Australia. Ozdaren 04:10, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

Certainly in the UK. Nunquam Dormio 20:04, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
It's a common term in Ireland also. Everytime 03:09, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

It's definitely not a term widely used anywhere outside Europe. For this reason perhaps the first lines should reflect this. In Australia its industry term is "pre-mixed".Wampusaust 05:14, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

The article really needs to be split into separate sections covering usage in North America, the UK / Ireland and Australia / NZ. The US beer based drinks are unique to that region and only exist because of the bizarre US post-prohibition liquor laws. Elsewhere alcopops are universally made with industrial ethanol because that's the cheapest way tho make them. The list of brands is pointless and misleading because they mean different things in different markets. --80.176.142.11 (talk) 20:14, 29 March 2008 (UTC)

Generally these drinks are colloquially referred to as 'coolers' in Western Canada. I've never heard any term at all used in marketing materials. I've certainly never heard the term Alcopop. I agree with the above posters, the introduction to this article needs to reflect that this is UK- or euro-centric. Adding links to dag pages for other common terms is probably useful too.

[edit] Chart

what's the deal with the chart? it doesnt make any sense to my little mind. Skhatri2005 07:26, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes, I should fix it up, have headings and what not. Though I would imagine it is pretty obvious exactly what it means... 202.10.86.59 14:11, 13 January 2007 (UTC)
sorry to be a bother, but what's the point of the chart. it's a good concept but I dont know how complete it is. first you have a large list of malternatives, then theres this chart that has only some of them on it. i'm just wondering the need for it, that's all. no bad faith here. cheersSkhatri2005 09:08, 18 January 2007 (UTC)
Absolutly none taken at all. And you are right, it is not very complete. I have slowly been filling it out, but I have not even heard of some of the drinks mentioned. I don't want to add drinks and not have any information on thim. IF the general concensus is that the diagram shall go, the diagram shall go 202.10.86.59 07:57, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

The chart is overkill. A list of products would be sufficient, with notations for ones that are especially unusual or significant. Thetrick 20:44, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Premium Packaged Spirits

The PPS article definately should be merged with this one if it is nothing more than a different marketing term for the range of products. Thetrick 20:52, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Woody's?

Anyone got anything on "Woody's"? Wasn't that the drink that started off the alcopop craze in the UK and Ireland?

[edit] History

These drinks have been around in Australia since the 1970s, first manufactured as UDL (United Distillers Ltd) and are collectively known as RTDs (Ready To Drink). The term alcopop is a British word. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Phanto282 (talk • contribs) 16:33, 27 September 2007 (UTC)


[edit] CONFLICTING

"California's state assembly recently passed AB 346, a bill which requires manufacturers of alcopops to carry a 'warning' label stating "ATTENTION: THIS DRINK CONTAINS ALCOHOL." [8] This bill has been praised by groups advocating against consumption of alcohol by minors[9], since these drinks are favored by young people due to their flavor and alcohol content."

I don't know... these two sentances don't seem to fit. Minors like the drink for its flavour and alcohol content, and the warning label states that it contains alcohol. It's almost additional advertising. You could almost replace "since" with "dispite the fact" and it would be just as correct. I just believe some minor clarification is required here. Do we really need to state here why the drinks are enjoyed by minors? 202.10.86.59 (talk) 15:08, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] List of Alcopops has incorrect entries

Am I misunderstanding the definition of Alcopop or are some of the things in the list of examples wrong?

Skyy Vodka is just a hard liquor, isn't it?

And doesn't it have to be sold pre-mixed to count? Or do those whiskeys and cokes and the gin and tonic count too? Is there any distinction between "Alcopop" and simply "Cocktail"? Mbarbier (talk) 17:12, 20 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Category merge

Now that the Alcopop and PPS articles have been merged, I suggest that Category:Alcopop and Category:Premixed and RTD alcoholic beverages be merged. I have no preference as to which survives, though retaining Alcopop would make more sense. --Thetrick (talk) 23:59, 6 June 2008 (UTC)