NSW regulator wants to ban alcoholic versions of popular soft drinks like Hard Solo

Hard Solo was forced to rebrand and now the NSW government is looking to ban any other alcoholic drinks using soft drink branding. Vote in our poll about whether these drinks should be outlawed.

EXCLUSIVE: versions of popular soft drinks would be outlawed in NSW under secret state-government push to declare an entire category of liquor as “undesirable”.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the state’s alcohol regulator is considering banning liquor companies leveraging “well known soft-drink branding” to sell new alcohol products, under legislation which allows for liquor to be banned if it is likely to appeal to minors or could be “confused with soft drinks or confectionary”.

The move would stop companies selling any new products like Hard Solo, which was last year been forced to change its name to “Hard Rated” under a decision from the federal regulator.

Alcoholic soft-drinks are a popular and growing market overseas, including products like “Hard Mtn Dew” (Mountain Dew) and Lipton Hard Iced Tea.

The NSW regulator now wants to ban the entire category.

An alcoholic Hard Solo next to its namesake, a Solo soft drink.

“L&GNSW (Liquor and Gaming NSW) has formed the view that liquor products which leverage established or iconic soft drink brands inherently hold appeal to minors and believes this risk warrants consideration of regulatory action,” the regulator said in a letter to industry bodies on Wednesday.

The letter, obtained by the Telegraph, said that L&GNSW is “currently considering further formal regulatory action by declaring a class of liquor products, being those that leverage well-known soft drink branding, as undesirable”.

“This would prohibit any liquor product from being sold or supplied in NSW that leverages well-known soft drink branding and prevent liquor products similar in nature to Hard Solo from entering the NSW market.”

Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris, responsible for the liquor regulator. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The ban would still allow products like Hard Rated to be sold, but companies would be prevented from using “established or iconic soft drink” branding.

It comes after regulators moved banned Victorian company Billson’s from selling certain alcoholic flavours.

The company had been selling an alcoholic version of its “Fruit Tangle” flavoured cordial. It has now been forced to call that drink “Vodka with Tangle”.

Alcohol regulators forced Victorian company Billson's to rename their "Fruit Tangle" drink. Picture: Supplied

The drink was renamed “Tangle with Vodka". Picture: Supplied

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris said the regulator is “consulting with industry on possible regulatory options for prohibiting a certain category of alcoholic drinks deemed as having appeal to minors”.

“The Minister has expressed his hard line opposition to alcohol masquerading as soft drinks, and the perceived marketing of such products to under-age drinkers,” she said.

“The NSW Government expects, and will enforce, companies doing the right thing in developing and marketing its products.”

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