Snoop Dogg Helps Market High-octane Alcohol to Youth Market

Hip-hop stars often get a bad rap for promoting a dangerous or unhealthy lifestyle. While you can’t paint the entire genre with a single brush, the notoriously pro-pot rapper Snoop Dogg isn’t helping the image. Lately, he’s been promoting a beverage called Blast, which has an alcohol content of 12 percent and is targeted to young drinkers.

Blast from Pabst Brewing Co.

In response, 17 state attorneys general are urging Pabst Brewing Co. to stop marketing to young drinkers and halt production of the new malt beverage. In a letter sent to the Pabst Brewing Co., Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler calls Blast (made by Colt 45) a “binge-in-a-can” that targets youth. Gansler was joined by attorney generals from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.

Part of the issue is that the drink comes in a colorful 23.5-ounce can that resembles soda pop. “They're marketing it as a single serving when in reality it's five servings in a can,” said Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for the Maryland attorney general.

Pabst Brewing Co. chief marketing officer Jon Sayer responded in a written statement: “Blast is only meant to be consumed by those above legal drinking age. As with all Pabst products, our marketing efforts for Blast are focused on conveying the message of drinking responsibly. To that end, the alcohol content of Blast is clearly marked on its packaging.”

Other similar products have been voluntarily pulled from the market in recent years.

Alcohol Treatment

If you or someone you love is battling an alcohol addiction or co-occurring disorder, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.