IT'S LEGAL, BUT COCAINE COULD STILL BE HARD TO FIND

"Cocaine" isn't for sale in Chicago area stores just yet, but some
local beverage purveyors say they won't stock it if it does become available.

The controversial energy drink recently debuted in New York and
California. The drink maker's Web site claims it will soon be
available online via Amazon.com.

Several Chicago bars and clubs contacted over the weekend said they
had no plans to stock the drink.

Tammy Tatos, owner of Gold Crown Liquors, 3425 N. Clark, said, "I
wouldn't buy it. It doesn't sound good."

Marissa Arredondo, a manager of Sam's Wines and Spirits at 1720 N.
Marcey, said the drink could upset some customers.

"We do have families come in and shop," she said. "They would be offended."

In addition to the provocative name, Cocaine promises an "instant
rush" with "no crash." It contains more caffeine than a Starbucks
Grande coffee, and nearly three times as much as the most popular
energy drink, Red Bull.

Glamorizes Addictive Drug

In some news accounts, officials with Redux Beverages in Las Vegas,
which makes the drink, were quoted as saying Cocaine numbs the throat
in order to produce an oral sensation like cocaine does. Company
officials in Las Vegas couldn't be reached for comment.

Joseph A. Califano, president of the National Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse at Columbia University, said Redux "should be ashamed
of creating and marketing an insidious product."

Noting that 1 million people use the drug cocaine weekly in the
United States, he said in a statement, "Putting a product on the
market that glamorizes an illegal and addictive drug like cocaine is
irresponsible and reprehensible."

While the drink has only been available for a short time, the company
claims its Web site, drink cocaine.com, received 6.7 million hits in
its first week.

On the drink's MySpace profile, visitors wondered when the drink
would be more widely available.

One person named Madeline asked when "is this coming to Chicago[?]
[E]verybody at my school wants a can!"