Viagra Ice Cream Cocktail: A Recipe for Sexual Assault?
Published August 10, 2009 @ 08:45PM PT
Discovered this gem from one of the writers at my full-time gig, Air America Media, which reports that you can now get viagra-esq supplements in the form of an ice cream cocktail...?
London ice cream shop The Icecreamists has a treat for you: the Sex Pistol ice cream cocktail, a combination of booze and herbal supplements to make your hot summer nights, well, a little hotter.
The Sex Pistol will combine ice cream with herbal supplements arginine, biloba, guarana and ginkgo, as well as absinthe. Customers 18 and over can buy the cocktail, though they are limited to one per visit.
My first thought was a cheeky remark: can they make a birth control option in ice cream form? That'd be much more fun than taking a daily pill.
My second thought was a little more realistic: by serving women and men these cocktails - couldn't they be endangering customers? We know that alcohol is already a social lubricant - but this seems to beg for a case of sexual assault (despite the fact of course that the ads shown above make it seem like women will be taking advantage of men).
Suddenly, the Sex Pistol doesn't sound so kinky, does it?
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Comments (18)
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Author
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Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media. Additionally, Nedeau volunteers as the Chief Technology Officer for New Leaders Council, a non-profit that offers exclusive training for young leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @HumanFolly or learn more here: www.jennedeau.com.
The vast majority of men awake with a morning erection without the use of any medication and without mechanical stimulation. It has never been indicated as a risk factor in sexual assault. Neither has the use of Viagra, Cialis or Levitra been causatively indicated as increasing the risk of sexual assault. Of course, a sex offender could enhance their ability to commit a crime with one of these agents. However, none have been shown to encourage this criminal behavior.
This is completely irresponsible, fear-mongering speculation.
FYI, I have no direct link to the pharmaceutical companies that create, market or sell these drugs. But I am a licensed, board certified physician.
Uneducated musing like this serves only to discredit the entire feminine equality movement.
Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 08/11/2009 @ 06:48AM PT
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Posted by hargroveev hargroveev on 10/12/2009 @ 01:29AM PT
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Correction: Above I stated, "I have no direct link to the pharmaceutical companies that create, market or sell these drugs." However, I have spoken on behalf of Pfizer, maker of Viagra, but never for erectile dysfunction medications.
Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 08/11/2009 @ 07:51AM PT
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I was going to say something along the lines of Fred here. It perpetuates a growing stereotype that men are uncontrollable raping machines, which is both an insult to men a a clear indicator from those perpetuating the stereotype that they don't understand male behavior or sexuality in the least.
Posted by I C on 08/11/2009 @ 08:30AM PT
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Ok, thanks for the feedback but honestly I think you're twisting my words. This is what I said:
"My second thought was a little more realistic: by serving women and men these cocktails - couldn't they be endangering customers?"
I believe I say both women and men can be endangered by serving sexually invigorating ice cream cocktals to the public. It's one thing if you're prescribed Viagra, it's another thing if it's available for anyone. Sure, they only let you have just one - but I think it's far too suggestive and who knows what could happen.
Posted by Jen Nedeau on 08/11/2009 @ 08:46AM PT
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From what I understand, this company is using over-the-counter herbal products in combination with alcohol. Since herbal medications in the USA (this a UK product) don't fall under the same scrutiny as prescriptive drugs and some are known to have potential interactions with controlled medications and/or alcohol, it is conceivable that this product could potentially harm one of their customers. The likelihood that it would play a significant role in instigating sexual violence would be expected to be very small. However, without adequate research there can be no definitive answer.
Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 08/11/2009 @ 09:15AM PT
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@Jen - First, I'd like to aknowledge that you did include "women" and men. To that end, you are absolutely correct. I don't mean to sound as aggressive as I did.
Can you explain the different ways you could see this cocktail leading to sexual assault? I was forming a more detailed reply, but I really need to work from more specifics to avoid writing a book.
Posted by I C on 08/11/2009 @ 09:20AM PT
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@Jen - You imply that just being horny and a little tipsy makes you more likely to sexually assault someone. People who want to commit acts of sexual violence use these things as an excuse, but the fact is they were going to do it anyway. It's probably a lot harder to do at an icecream shop than at the bar though, so anyone looking for that is probably still going to be at the bar.
Posted by Cole Burns on 08/11/2009 @ 01:44PM PT
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I agree with you on most of your points Jen. The one point I would disagree on is that this recipe endangers men in any way. (I don't know about you, but I don't know a too many men who would balk at the thought of being taken advantage of sexually by a woman) In fact; I think it may actually help preserve a lot of otherwise stagnant relationships because for many people, it is far too much trouble with excessively busy work/home life schedules, to make an appointment with the Doctor just to get a prescription for a drug like Viagra, not to mention too embarrassing. It may also aid in creating many new relationships.
What I agree with you on is that, as with all good things, there is a certain amount of risk involved. What's that old saying? "Nothing worthwhile is ever easy." Of course there will be the occasional date rape but we have that now don't we? And with this new Ice Cream/Viagra cocktail, maybe it will actually cut DOWN on the number of date rapes. After all; you can't rape the willing right?
Posted by Mike Nichols on 08/30/2009 @ 04:22AM PT
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One final point:
"I was going to say something along the lines of Fred here. It perpetuates a growing stereotype that men are uncontrollable raping machines, which is both an insult to men a a clear indicator from those perpetuating the stereotype that they don't understand male behavior or sexuality in the least."
Jen; I am forced to agree with C here. You of all people should know that rape is not about sexual satisfaction. It is about dominance and control which are psychological issues NOT physical ones. If there is one thing in this world I cannot stand it is being labeled as a pervert or something along those lines simply because I am a man endowed with the sex drive that nature gave me. How DARE you or anyone go against nature. Please don't blame your sexual repression on those of us who are less inhibited.
Posted by Mike Nichols on 08/30/2009 @ 04:35AM PT
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Having been roofed by a co-worker I see where she is going with this. Unfortunately too many young girls are being assulted with combinations just like this. You just have not heard of them because one they happen to the younger women and they in turn think once again it was there fault because they had too much to drink. Among the "CRappers" it is a cocktail for them to have Ecstacy, and Viagra as a staple and then if they throw in a little Rohypnol whats the harm. Date Rape is all too real, I was lucky and had enough comprehension to leave and drive, when I got home I passed out on my living room floor and did not wake up until the next morning. What I also did when I went back to work was to tell every women I could about the perv so they could leave that man alone and not be bothered. Think about high school kids who can order anything they want online, think about college kids who will do almost anything in the name of a joke, if it can be done people almost certainly will do it. Jen is not talking about the man who is in a relationship and they are consenting adults, Jen is speaking of the ones who do take advantage and to imply that she is making too much out of nothing is in itself the reason why Date Rape is as rampant and under reported as it is....Take the time and really see people, then take the time to say could that actually happen and then re-think what you wrote....People have done a whole lot of things in this this world others would not think of doing but they did....Sarah
Posted by Sarah Burnside on 08/16/2009 @ 04:39AM PT
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Sarah, I'm sorry you experienced what you did.
However, I stand firmly that the women in many of these cases are not entirely innocent of responsibility. Anytime you consume mood altering substances, you consciously make a choice to invite high risk factors into your life.
It is also common for young women to make "poor" deicsions while in an altered state and often times these "poor" decisions get retold as stories of assualt that destory a young man's life. It is a two way street.
The problem isn't the cocktail. The failed war on drugs is a clear example of why you can't blame a substance... the problem is people and education.
We should do more to teach young women (and men) about the risks (and pleasures) involved in substance use. Real honest and true information, not fear based propaganda.
I'm sympathetic to date rape, but I'm also very very careful about wanting to know the details of any given story - as I've actually moved to defend a woman who had a very distorted view of events and - ultimately - was blaming an innocent man of a very serious crime.
It's not clear cut... and it's the kind of thing that makes us angry - very angry... But at the end of the day, blaming a drug is just an excuse.
Posted by I C on 08/18/2009 @ 08:58AM PT
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Once again; I am forced to agree with C. I think most cases of date rape are simply women who made a bad decision, for whatever reason, and is feeling so guilty in the morning that she decides to just blame it all on the guy. Please note: I said MOST cases; not ALL. The problem with date rape is in the law itself. To take a guy to second base and then expect him to just STOP goes against the laws of nature. Some guys are able to do this, some are not. I believe the law should be re-written to include that women have a very clear understanding of this and be prepared to go all the way, or not go at all. This doesn't mean you can't give a guy a kiss or hold hands but when you start letting him touch "Hot Button" areas, like your breasts, or other things that you KNOW will arouse him, you know what you are doing and you should be ready to accept responsibility for whatever happens. Gals; I'm sorry! But you can't simply turn us on and off like a light switch. It doesn't work that way. And too many of you think that you can and can get away with it but when it blows up in your face; you want to scream Rape right away. I suggest all of you stop and think next time before you ruin a guys entire life over something that was at least HALF your fault.
"If a victim in possession of his or her mental faculties fails to make lack of consent reasonably manifest by taking such measures of resistance as are called for by the circumstances, the inference may be drawn that the victim did consent."
"All the surrounding circumstances are to be considered in determining whether a victim gave consent, or whether he or she failed or ceased to resist only because of a reasonable fear of death or grievous bodily harm."
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm120.htm
Posted by Mike Nichols on 08/30/2009 @ 04:53AM PT
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Thanks for your reply, Sarah. You really explained the point I am getting at with this post - and unfortunately your real world experience is what has to be used to get the message across. I agree that people are in denial about date rape and that it is a rampant problem.
I feel that these sort of consumer products are "asking for it" in terms of a trip to the ice cream parlor gone wrong, and that is what I wanted to share.
Posted by Jen Nedeau on 08/16/2009 @ 12:04PM PT
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I C has obviously never had Rohypnol spiked into his drink or doesn't know anyone who has.
Bottom line (from a friend who did, and was not so lucky as Sarah) the recipient is totally bot responsible for anything that happens once the drug hits. In my book on Human Trafficking I use a version of this experience (Rohypnol) to bring home this point......
Posted by john stack on 09/01/2009 @ 12:43PM PT
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