Cocaine: The Anti-Drug

Connecticut is suddenly enforcing an obscure beverage licensing law and seizing hundreds of cases of the energy drink Cocaine. Officials say they're concerned about whether water used in the production of the drink is safe for drinking. Oh, and also they think the drink will destroy Connecticut's children. And ruin Hartford's "image":

Hartford's mayor said he will continue to work with merchants and neighborhood leaders to keep the drink off the shelves and away from city youngsters.

"I welcome the embargo of this product that glamorizes illegal drugs and works to undo all the positive strides that Hartford residents and businesses have made in regards to the Capital Citys image," Perez said.

But Cocaine, protests the drink's maker in apparent earnest, is the DARE program of highly caffeinated beverages:

The drink is named Cocaine to reach young people in an anti-drug effort, Kirby said. It does not contain drugs.

"Kids want to hear an anti-drug message from other kids, not from adults," he said. "Politicians and adults don't see that."

Jacob Sullum catalogues Cocaine's legal woes here.