Trip drinks has tapped in to a burgeoning market for non-alcoholic drinks, advertising widely on social media and positioning itself as a brand that uses ingredients that, it claims, relax people.
It calls itself the “UK’s No.1 CBD brand”. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is an extract of the marijuana plant and is commonly advertised as a relaxant, though it does not induce a “high” like other compounds found in the plant.
However, the Trip drinks range in the banned advert does not contain CBD.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld three complaints made against Trip’s advert for its cucumber and mint flavoured drink.
The ad appeared on its website in December with the words: “Try me in the morning to help find some calm before a long day, or take a Trip to unwind when work is over.”
The ASA found the company made a host of claims about its “Mindful Blend” range having “viral ingredients”, that were “calming”. These included the supplements Lion’s Mane extract, L-theanine and ashwagandha.