When Little Fat Lamb hit liquor stores in 2015, Australian teens were absolutely smitten. Not only are these ciders chocked with an alcohol content of 8%, they’re also cheap as anything. However, It was their beefy-looking, 1.25-litre bottle of cider that transformed the brand into an icon.
Now the company behind Little Fat Lamb, Drink Craft Pty Ltd, has released a new drink called ‘fantasy’ and honestly, it’s a tad concerning.
Little Fat Lamb’s original alcohol range was already a little risky. To put the strength of these bevvies into context, regular beer and ciders purport a 5% alcohol content, Passion Pop boasts a 9.5%, and wine is around 13.5%. However, it goes without saying that young people aren’t typically drawn to wine, and Passion Pop is becoming a thing of the past. Little Fat Lamb has taken the crown for the next best thing.
‘Fantasy’ ups the game as it contains guarana, a plant native to the Amazon basin which contains caffeine. As it turns out guarana isn’t always the safest thing to consume.
Obviously, the alcoholic beverage has been approved for legal sale, however, the product’s label does read “warning” multiple times in red, capitalised letters. Other products by the same company don’t include this label, so we have to assume it’s related to the new ingredient.
Credit: Drink Craft Pty Ltd
According to a journal article by the CSIRO, “excessive intake of guarana can cause nausea, nervousness, tremor, irritability, diuresis, gastric irritation and palpitations.”
My guess is that the drink is completely harmless in an average dosage, like most things containing caffeine. It’s probably just best to not over-do it.
The concerning thing is that young people are sort of infamous for over-doing it. Indeed, drinking an average dosage will prove a hard task for youthful consumers, many of whom still don’t quite know their limits yet. Let’s be real, none of us did at 18.
credit: giphy
A recent study even pointed out that your boozy behaviour may be affecting your family and friends more than you think.
It’s true that Little Fat Lamb has drawn in a very specific type of demographic – one that can’t afford expensive booze, want a large quantity of it, are after something sugary and strong.
It’s to be expected that this bev, too, will garner lots of attention. However, if you’re looking to try this rainbow-clad number, now is the time to take your mum’s worried advice: just don’t over-do it.