A Washington bar is causing a big stir with one of its new menu items, a drink called "Date Grape Koolaid."
FOX News reported that the Daiquiri Factory in downtown Spokane unveiled its new grape cocktail to mark the bar's grand opening on Friday. Criticism immediately began to pile up after the drink appeared on a menu posted of the bar's Facebook page last Thursday.
"(You're) making a joke out of the pain so many of us had to endure by naming a drink after an act of abuse is narrow-minded and insensitive," one Facebook user wrote. "Obviously you are more concerned with your bottom line and trying to be clever, and instead of concern for the people who live in this state."
Rape survivors and others against the questionable name are asking the bar to change the title of the beverage. FOX reported that about 100 protesters gathered outside Daiquiri Factory and criticized the bar for poking fun at an issue affecting many women.
"I think that perpetrators of sexual violence think they live in a society that condones their behavior," Rebecca Nagle, one of the leaders of Force, a feminist group dedicated to upsetting rape culture, told the New York Daily News. "I think it's pretty typical of rape culture to make light of rape. I think it's one of the ways we avoid the seriousness of the issue."
Even with the criticism, the bar's owner said the name is here to stay. On its Facebook page, the bar reportedly bragged about selling 10 gallons of the drink on the same night protesters rallied outside the bar, asking for an apology.
"Thanks So Much Spokane! We Sold Over 10 Gallons of Date Grape Koolaid Tonight!"
The Facebook page also posted an explanation to the beverage's name, stating that it was taken from the an Urban Dictionary definition of "Date Grape."
"For The Protesters, you simply had it all wrong.. now if you want to go into the technical debate about what a grape or wine is.. then your stretching way too far.. for the record here is a Urban Dictionary."
Kraft Foods, maker of Kool-Aid, is now weighing in, stating that it is not pleased about its product being used in such a drink.
"We at Kraft are appalled. Kool-Aid does not support or condone this drink, and finds its name to be highly insensitive to a serious issue. This blatant misuse of the Kool-Aid trademark is offensive to so many, including us, and we are making it our top priority to address the situation ASAP," it said in a statement, according to FOX.
A separate "Boycott Spokane Downtown Daiquiri Factory" Facebook page has since been set up.
"I can't believe more people haven't picked up on this. Date Grape Koolaid? With date rape statistics higher than ever and even worse in a college town, this is clearly a dangerous mentality to perpetuate," Facebook user Kara Kingen wrote on the bar's page.
