Gin firm at a loss over ‘drug link’

AN INDEPENDENT distiller has been dealt a blow after it was ruled its latest gin “created an indirect association with illicit drugs”.

Silent Pool’s Colorado High contains 200mg of CBD oil, which is legal in the UK. The £50-per-500ml drink is named after mountains in the US state where the hemp that its CBD is extracted from is grown.

There is no evidence CBD has a psychoactive effect and CBD products, such as lotions or creams, are available to buy in high street stores.

But after receiving a complaint the Portman Group – the regulatory body for alcohol in the UK – said the drink went against its guidelines on promoting CBD products, stating that the use of the word “high” in the name “is commonly associated with drugs”.

Its ruling means 130 retailers, including supermarkets, have been advised not to stock the product.

Ian Mcculloch, managing director of Silent Pool, said: “I am disappointed but not surprised at the conclusion the Portman Group came to.

“They consistently linked CBD to cannabis despite being told that we don’t even use the word on the packaging and CBD is completely legal and can be purchased by anyone.

“It’s not even a product you have to be over a certain age to consume.

“We cater to an adult market that appreciates and believes in CBD. Our ultra-high dose gin is expensive because of the ingredients and this self-selects its buyer.”

The Portman Group also commented on the colourful illustration of the Colorado mountains, described as “hallucinogenic” in the original complaint, as well as a message on the bottle describing CBD as being “wellness enhancing”.

Mr Mcculloch said 2,300 bottles of Colorado High have already been sold without any complaints. Silent Pool said it will continue to sell the gin online and through independent shops.

Chair of the Portman Group’s independent complaints panel, Nicola Williams, said: “The panel decided Colorado High was in breach of two of the code’s rules.we urge producers to think carefully about how they place a CBD descriptor on their product’s packaging.”