The disdain only begins after the complaints

News story on the radio as I drove to work this morning: 7-Eleven is pulling an energy drink called “Cocaine” (marketing: “The Legal Alternative”) off its shelves following complaints from parents that the product would encourage drug use among teenagers.

The newsies quoted a 7-Eleven spokeswonk as saying (paraphrased), “We don’t want to be associated with a product of that type.”

Which begs the question: How did such a product get onto 7-Eleven shelves in the first place? Surely it couldn’t be the usual corporate mantra—they were absolutely fine with the association until complaints and news coverage put them in the position of having to spin things.

I’m absolutely sure such a cynical take on the story is completely unwarranted.