Hard Solo Changing Name Due to ABAC Decision - Will There Be Bargains Coming?

MattyD on 10/02/2024 - 14:00
Last edited 07/10/2024 - 14:20 by 1 other user

Hi OzBargainers, keen to do some sleuthing on whether there's an opportunity coming for some discounted alcoholic lemon drinks here. (especially after the Kirin Hyoketsu and Smirnoff Hard Soda e.g. Yuzu Citrus giveaways last year).

tldr; CUB legally required to change name/packaging of "Hard Solo" products by 9-Feb-2024 (yesterday), lots of places still selling it after this date. Should we expect bargains?

The makers of Hard Solo alcoholic drinks, CUB (owned by ASAHI) were found last year to have breached Australian Beverages Advertising Codes (ABAC) with their alcoholic lemon drink, 'Hard Solo'. In upholding multiple complaints against the brand, ABAC found specifically that the products packaging held "strong or evident appeal to minors" (many of whom already had an affinity for the non-alcoholic 'Solo' brand).

ABAC rules and procedures 4.17 states that 'Marketers' must rectify any such breaches within 3 months of the ABAC decision in the following ways:

4.17.1. cease further orders for production of the product name, product packaging or marketing collateral immediately;
4.17.2. ensure the product name, product packaging or marketing collateral is modified so as to be consistent with the Panel’s determination within 3 months after notification;
4.17.3. advise the Panel within five (5) business days as to their intended action and timeframes in respect of the product name, product packaging or marketing collateral; and
4.17.4. not reinstate the unmodified product name, product packaging or marketing collateral at any time.

In response to the ABAC decision, CUB committed to the following via spokesperson:

Consistent with ABAC rules, CUB will ensure the last Hard Solo can packaging will exit our supply network by no later than 9 February 2024 (s4.17. of the ABAC Code).

I looked today (the day after this date) and still see plenty of vendors still advertising Hard Solo products as available: first choice liquorland, boozebud etc.

Does anybody know how "exit our supply network" might affect the continued retail sale of "Hard Solo", and - with further complaints - if/when retailers might look to clear out "Hard Solo" packaged products? BWS cleared their stocks out at $2 per can using DoorDash in November, which made the news.

• 

  Nugs on 10/02/2024 - 14:13

  Maybe
  .

• 

  mskeggs on 10/02/2024 - 14:15

  +9

  It looks like the requirement is on Asahi not to supply after that date. There doesn’t seem to be anything requiring a retailer not to sell it, or requiring Asahi to get retailers to return it.

  • 

    Settero on 10/02/2024 - 14:20

    +2

    This, So it will be like any other clearance/discontinued item, Sales will likely vary depending on stock/shelf space/expiry.

    • 

      MattyD on 10/02/2024 - 14:22

      Yeah I thought as much, i.e. not necessarily any pressure on stockists. But BWS moving hard to make way for renamed stock made me wonder.

      Keen to hear from employees who might have info they would share.

      • 

        freefall101 on 10/02/2024 - 20:24

        BWS likely decided they didn't want to be associated with the name after the ruling, the rest don't seem to care.

        Likely what you'll see is they discount it once they have the new stock, so they don't have to share shelf space and make it confusing. Not really a need for online places like Boozebud to worry about that.

• 

  Jimothy Wongingtons on 10/02/2024 - 14:40

  +4

  strong or evident appeal to minors

  Wow.

  Anyway - If there is a fire sale put me down for a slab.. or 5

• 

  AustriaBargain on 10/02/2024 - 15:01

  +1

  Bargains? The Hard Solo branded ones will be collectors items, it was one of the biggest memes of 2023.

• 

  sw00p on 10/02/2024 - 15:03

  +2

  Mad props for your elite bargain forecast game 👍🏻

  • 

    MattyD on 10/02/2024 - 15:22

    +2

    Haha now if only I could use my powers for good instead of evil alcohol 🤣

• 

  spackbace on 10/02/2024 - 15:12

  +4

  Unlikely bargains, more like grab it before it's gone…

• 

  monky on 10/02/2024 - 15:16

  +1

  I don't know if I should be impressed or worried by your efforts… I'm leaning towards impressed because this really is peak OzBargaining… But please drink responsibly.

  • 

    MattyD on 10/02/2024 - 15:25

    +1

    You should definitely be worried.

    I probably only kept track of all of this because of FOMO after missing the DoorDash deal.

    Now I lie in wait…

• 

  Benoffie on 10/02/2024 - 15:21

  +4

  Possibly. Could be another Duff scenario.

  Which I made good money on recently after selling a slab I bought for $20 for $200.

  Only took how many years….

• 

  Switchblade88 on 10/02/2024 - 15:57

  +4

  Premix? In this economy??

  A reminder that it's $47.99 for a slab of TEN cans

• 

  Nillionaire on 10/02/2024 - 16:50

  +2

  damn we really let the karens win this smh

• 

  Drakesy on 10/02/2024 - 19:59

  +1

  Pretty sure they've already cleared the last of the old labelled cans.

  Rare as hens teeth now.

• 

  figsquirrel8 on 10/02/2024 - 22:18

  +1

  CUB will not distribute it after 9 February 2024 and current stock will be sold as per normal. New branding available in supply chain after 9 February 2024. Discounts unlikely. The real issue is karens not supervising their kids.

  edit - i could be cynical and say it was a deliberate marketing strategy from CUB …

• 

  Clear on 11/02/2024 - 05:24

  +3

  ABAC must be really out of touch if they think "hard solo" is the appeal to minors. I think the real appeal is "alcohol".

  • 

    mapax on 11/02/2024 - 08:57

    A lot of young people are doing other drugs instead of alcohol. They think alcohol is for conservatives, poors and boomers.

    • 

      Clear on 11/02/2024 - 09:38

      Nothing new. Certainly worse now than 10 years ago.

    • 

      Manny Calavera on 11/02/2024 - 12:53

      In their crack rentals because they cannot afford their own crack houses.

• 

  82norm on 11/02/2024 - 09:44

  Why no poll?

  • 

    MattyD on 11/02/2024 - 21:53

    Happy to speculate with everybody (agree with most of the comments here as good-sense thoughts), but was also hoping we had some insiders in the OB community who might shed light from specific retailers' pov.

    When I wrote this I assumed the same as mskeggs' comment - that the ruling doesn't affect the retailers at all.