Boycott Monster Energy Drink/Hansen Beverage Company

Not that you really need a reason. The stuff is crap. All energy drinks are crap. Ever look at the ingredients? I feel more comfortable ingesting methamphetamines. I see young boys at grocery stores staring at the energy drink rack the same way I would stare at the cereal rack. The cereals I would want were obviously not good for me but they are nothing compared to the energy drinks out there. They are mostly sugar but they are also loaded with chemicals that are called “ingredients.” I am not saying that these drink will kill or ultimately harm kids or whoever drinks them but it really does not do a body any good. I think it was Michael Pollan that roughly said, “If what you have has more than 5 ingredients, you probably shouldn’t consume it.” Of course in this society that is easier said than done, but it is good to at least try, and good thing beer usually just has 4.

Now, if you know me I am not a fan of corporations. In fact I really dislike them, really. I try not to get political on here because I don’t want this to turn into an ideology battle but I see corporations as the real government here in American and the real driving force and is the base for a lot of our problems. I grew up with my dad owning a small business and though it is very successful he still had to battle the big dogs. But what Monster Energy Drink is doing is nothing short of despicable.

In a small town in Vermont there is a brewery called Rock Art Brewery. Founded, owned and operated by husband and wife team Matt and Renee Nadeau, these people embody the American dream. But the American dream these days is under attack and so is Rock Art. On September 14, 2009 Matt got an email from Hansen Beverage, the owners of Monster, asking him to cease using the name of their barely wine, Vermonster, because Hansen wants to enter the alcohol market (and I shudder to see what kind of Frankenstein concoction they will come up with). Nadeau said he is going to stand his ground, he is already in the market they want to enter. Sad thing is, Nadeau will win, they are two very different names. But what will happen, that happens so frequently, is that Hansen Beverage Company will continue with the suit, they got the money to do it, Rock Art does not and they will eventually bankrupt them. Hansen will loose, but then they will appeal and appeal basically draining Rock Art dry, Rock Art will not be able to keep up the suits. Or, Rock Art can give in. But someone needs to make a stand. And that is where we can help.

Throughout history governments and corporations (which are one and the same today in my opinion) fear the great beast. The great beast being an aware, fed up and angry people. And what we can do. Well, spread the word, stop buying Monster and all Hansen products, support Rock Art, support all local and small businesses, what we should always do. I know none of us can be completely pure and free of the corporate grip but we can at least do what we can. Grow your own garden and go to farmers markets when you can. Brew your own beer or buy from local/small businesses. Go to a local market or store instead of a chain when you can. When a major corporation does wrong, don’t shrug your shoulders and give in to apathy, just stop giving them your money. I don’t like to get preachy on my blog but there comes a time when something happens that we all can agree on. I believe that no one thinks that Hansen Beverage should do this, so why can they? Or better yet, why do they?

In addition to boycotting Monster I urge you boycott everything from Hansen until they drop their demands and let Rock Art keep the name of Vermonster.

Here is a list of their products.

And you can contact Monster here and Hansen here. And be sure to spread the word and fellow bloggers, you have a duty too, link to this or write your own post. We have to defend one of our own.

Also contact your local Senator and Congress person to have them look into US trademark law to see if we can prevent future bogus attacks like this.

Thank you. And don’t let the cynics tell you it’s not worth it.