Marks & Spencer has been ordered to change the name of its Porn Star Martini drink after a complaint to the alcohol industry watchdog. The Portman Group upheld a single complaint from a member of the public, ruling that the name breached its code linking alcohol to sexual activity.
The passion fruit-based vodka mix, launched by the supermarket chain last September, will now be rebranded as Passion Star Martini. The new name will be rolled out across M&S stores over the next three months.
The Portman Group's independent complaints panel stated that while there was nothing else on the packaging creating an association with sexual activity, the name Porn Star Martini was enough of a link. The panel noted that a 'porn star' is defined as an actor famous for appearing in pornographic films, which by their nature contain sexual activity.
The complainant argued that allowing the name would open the floodgates for other drinks such as Sex on the Beach, Slippery Nipple, and Sloe Comfortable Screw. The Portman Group's code section 3.2d prohibits alcoholic products from suggesting any association with sexual activity or sexual success.
A Marks & Spencer spokesperson said: 'Porn Star Martini is a common name for a passion fruit cocktail drink. Our product launched in September 2018 and quickly became one of our most popular cocktails. However, as a Portman Group co-signatory, we respect the ruling and will be changing the name to Passion Star Martini.'
The drink was originally created in 2002 by mixologist Douglas Ankrah and is widely available in cocktail bars across the UK. In a separate move, the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) recently banned beers with sexist names or imagery from its Great British Beer Festival.
