A controversial north-east brewery is again facing criticism from health campaigners after giving its latest concoction the same name as a lethal heroin-cocaine cocktail.

Fraserburgh-based BrewDog faced criticism earlier this month after launching Tokyo – the UK’s strongest beer with a 12% alcohol content.

Now they face further scorn after it emerged their next beer will be called Speedball, the name of the notorious drug cocktail which claimed the lives of the actors John Belushi and River Phoenix.

However last night James Watt, managing director of BrewDog, said that campaigners are failing to realise that they both want the same thing – to challenge binge drinking. He explained that the name was simply a marketing tool designed to challenge the traditional folksy image of beer brewed in small breweries.

He said: “Sure, calling a beer Speedball is provocative but the public-health campaigners, as they did with Tokyo, will generate hysteria to conceal their own shortfalls in failing to educate drinkers properly.

“It won’t be sold in pubs or corner shops or off-licences – it’s for connoisseurs who know where to find it.

“I agree with what these campaigners are doing, but what we are about is getting drinkers to enjoy less of a quality drink.

“The campaigners continually have a go at us, but they’re too shortsighted to see that we are the one company with precisely the same objectives.”

Speedball is a weaker beer with an alcohol by volume content of 8%, made with a mix of ingredients
including cola nut and guarana.

But it has angered politicians and health campaigners not for its ingredients or alcohol content – but the name alone.

Richard Simpson MSP, Labour’s public health spokesman, said: “Cocaine and heroin mixed is dangerous. To use that name, associated as it is with the cocktail that killed River Phoenix, is grossly irresponsible.

“Quite a number of people with addiction problems are addicted to both drugs and alcohol, and those that do have the greatest problems.

“If this drink encourages the mixing of alcohol and drugs then that is very dangerous.”

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, added: “To produce products like these, of very high strength, aimed at a younger market, flies in the face of good corporate social responsibility.”

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