Most of us are familiar with the classic passion fruit cocktail Porn Star Martini, but M&S has been forced to rename theirs after breaching rules.
Last September, the retailer launched a canned version of the popular cocktail at £2.25 each. They decided to keep the classic name, but have since been told it needed to be rebranded following a complaint.
The complaint said that the original name breached rules by associating alcohol with sex. Reportedly, the complainant said: ‘Porn stars are idolised as people who have sexual success and paid for doing so’
‘Therefore, hearing this name on a can of an alcoholic cocktail is linking alcohol with sexual success.
‘If you continue to allow this, it will open the flood gates to others, e.g. Sex on the Beach, Slippery Nipple, Sloe Comfortable Screw, Liquid Viagra etc.’
Business magazine Campaign reported that watchdog The Portman Group ruled that the name breached one of its rules. The rule states that no drink should, in any direct or indirect way, suggest any association with sexual activity.
Read more: Shoppers criticise M&S for selling ‘inappropriate’ Porn Star Martinis
However, M&S argued that the name was well-known and was sold worldwide, so recognisable as a popular cocktail. They claimed that customers associate it with the drink, and not with sexual activity.
Other retailers selling the drink refer to it as a Passion Fruit Martini, and The Portman Group insisted that M&S should follow suit. As a result of this, M&S have agreed to change the name.
In a statement, they said: ‘Porn Star Martini is a common name for a passion fruit cocktail drink. Our product launched in September 2018 and quickly became one of our most popular cocktails.
‘However, as a Portman Group co-signatory, we respect the ruling and will be changing the name to Passion Star Martini.’
Some Twitter users are confused about the decision, with one calling it ‘extreme’: 'Bit of an extreme ruling, surely we can assume people don't think drinking a pornstar martini makes them a pornstar... Like getting bitten by a radioactive spider and becoming Spiderman? Is that how it works?'.
Another said the decision was ‘absolute madness’.
So whilst the drink won’t be disappearing from our shelves completely, it’ll be under the brand new name of Passion Star Martini.
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