Baton Rouge has a new “Drank” in town and parents, doctors, and the Food and Drug 
Administration are concerned that the non-alcohol beverages could lead to something greater.
The popular relax elixirs, Drank and Sippin Syrup, have gone mainstream and are showing up at convenient stories in predominately Black neighborhoods throughout Baton Rouge.
Sold in shiny purple cans and black and purple bottles, the drinks can be bought by adults and children with little warnings about the drinks’ dangers.
Since 2008, the Houston-based Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Inc. has made $7.8 million on the beverage product that they market as “the first ever extreme relaxation beverage.”
The can bears hip-hop colloquialisms as the drink’s slogan: “Slow Your Roll.”
“Gone are the days of the Styrofoam and red Solo brand cups and we should all be concerned,” said a mother who called The Drum about the new drinks.
Birthed in Texas, the real “Drank” is known as “lean,” “purple drank,” “purple stuff,” “barre”, “syrup” or “sizzurp.”
It is made up of prescription-grade cough syrup containing promethazine and/or codeine, 7UP or Sprite and Jolly Rancher candy.
Although the main ingredient of the store’s Drank is not as potent as cough syrup, it and the drink’s appeal might be just as hazardous, said the Food and Drug Administration and local doctors.
Both Drank and Sippin Syrup have melatonin as the main ingredient, along with St. John’s Wort and other herbal supplements.
With the lightly-carbonated grape flavor, someone not familiar with the real thing would think Drank is much like grape soda.
But that’s not the case. Family doctor Rani Whitfield called the ingredients “contradictory” because the drinks both have high levels (2mg per can or bottle) of melatonin, which is widely known as a hormone that induces sleep, and high levels (nearly 60g per bottle) of high fructose corn syrup, which he said is “the worst sugar possible.”
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, melatonin is generally safe, but anyone consuming it should see a physician before ingesting the hormone, especially if the person is taking blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticoagulants (blood-thinning), steroids or immunosuppressants.
Doctors also warn that melatonin will decrease the effectiveness of birth control.
Whitfield, who is nationally known as Tha’ Hip Hop Doc, said many people who try these drinks, especially young teens, try it because of the drinks’ association with the real “purple drank” being praised in hip hop and rap music.
“It’s prepping (consumers) for the next real thing,” he said.
Drank is “the worst thing I’ve ever seen on the street since the making of candy cigarettes,” said Dr. Ronald Peters, assistant professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health.
“They’re taking the name, and they’re trying to market it to young people,” he said.
Drank and FDA
In January, the FDA issued Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Inc. a warning letter about the use of melatonin in this beverage.
The FDA wrote: “A food additive is required to be approved by the FDA for its intended use prior to marketing. Melatonin is not an approved food additive for use in beverages. Therefore, the product ‘Drank,’ a beverage containing melatonin, is adulterated…”
According to the FDA, although the melatonin in Drank is not unsafe, it has not met the criteria to be generally considered safe or GRAS and is not an approved food additive.
Since this is “an open and active case,” Drank can still be sold to consumers, said FDA press officer Michael Herndon.
“The (Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act passed by Congress) does not grant the FDA the exclusive right to determine whether a substance is GRAS, and a company can make what is called a self-GRAS determination. The FDA can take regulatory action if it determines that the substance is not truly GRAS for the intended use.”
At present, the FDA has not determined how safe or unsafe the melatonin levels are in so-called “relaxation drinks,” Herndon said.
Unless it is determined that the melatonin levels are unsafe for consumption or someone gets sick from this product, Drank appears to be here to stay.
Other relaxation beverages, like Sippin Syrup and iCalm, that contain melatonin have yet to be warned by the FDA as Drank was earlier this year.
“All drinks like these are probably not regulated like they should be, so I wouldn’t recommend this to my patients,” said cardiologist Garland G. Green.
“I don’t recommend energy drinks, so I especially wouldn’t recommend anti-energy or relaxation drinks,” he said.
Drank spokesman Eric Fischgrund said the ingredients are perfectly safe and natural. “We developed Drank’s proprietary formula to include the same ingredients that are well known for their relaxation benefits in health and vitamin stores around the world,” he said.
“Drank has been on the market since 2008 with no reports of adverse effects; the product is currently in compliance with FDA guidelines as a dietary supplement.”
Fischgrund also said the company advises consumers who are uneasy about this drink to consult their physicians.
“While all of the ingredients in Drank can be found in the vitamin aisle of your local drug store, we encourage any concerned customers to check with their own doctor or pharmacist if they have questions,” he said.
HARD FACTS
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many side effects to the “safe” ingredients in Drank and Sippin Syrup:
- Melatonin possible side effects: daytime sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, abdominal discomfort, confusion, sleepwalking, nightmares
- St. John’s Wort possible side effects: gastrointestinal upset, skin reactions, fatigue/sedation, restlessness or anxiety, sexual dysfunction (including impotence), sensitivity to light, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, suicidal and homicidal thoughts
- High fructose syrup possible side effects: obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease
IRBH’s website boasts “our favorite rappers” love and drink Drank. It doesn’t mention legendary Houston pioneer Robert “DJ Screw” Davis Jr., who popularized the “purple drank” mixture prior to his death in 2000. Screw died at age 29.
In 2007, Kenneth “Big Moe” Moore and Chad “Pimp C” Butler died at 33 years old. Moore died from a heart attack which many speculated was from his use of syrup, while Butler died from a combination of sleep apnea and overdose of syrup.
Since 2000, the southern hip hop scene has run amok with songs mentioning the consumption of this mixture.
Purple drank or sippin syrup has been mentioned by more than 30 rappers and musicians including UGK, Lil Wayne, Lil Boosie, Gucci Mane, Indie Arie, and Plies.
OTHER FINDINGS
According to a study published by Dr. Ronald Peters of University of Texas’ School of Public Health, 25 percent of at-risk youth in Houston reported the recreational use of codeine
In 2009, Innovative Beverage Group Holdings, Inc. sued Katalyst Beverage Corporation, the makers of Sippin Syrup, because of the company using the taglines, “Slow Your Roll” and “Extreme Relaxation.” IBGH won and KBG was ordered to cease and desist manufacturing and selling any products bearing those two trademarks. The bottle now reads “extended relaxation” and “experience calmness.”
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