Ordering 'Red Bull' and being given 'Shark'

ajapale said:
I remember many years ago asking for a pint of Harp and getting Heineken.
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Bizarre. They're completely different. Smithwick's/McArdles I can understand but this sounds to me that the barman just thought: "Ah, give them any auld swill - who cares?"
 
John Rambo said:
Inability to sleep, heart palpatations, a horrible taste in your mouth, and a Viagra effect. That kind of stuff.
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Holey moley, sounds like the effects of / withdrawals from a very powerful stimulant. It must be scary as well as unpleasant.
 
Caveat said:
Bizarre. They're completely different. Smithwick's/McArdles I can understand but this sounds to me that the barman just thought: "Ah, give them any auld swill - who cares?"
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Heineken were running a promotion at the time. The publican that sold the most Heineken got a holiday to Florida or a Weekend away in Holland.

It could be that "Shark" are running some kind of promotion at present.
 
mathepac said:
Holey moley, sounds like the effects of / withdrawals from a very powerful stimulant. It must be scary as well as unpleasant.
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Agree! That's insane!

Anyway I definitely think you should get on to Red Bull and inform them, I can't imagine they will be too pleased. Let us know how you get on.
 
They do the same with Lucozade, loads of places don't serve it any more and give you out some yucky energiser drink instead.
 
ajapale said:
I remember many years ago asking for a pint of Harp and getting Heineken. I got no joy from the publican but let the local Guiness rep know. Some months later I was back and asked for Harp. The said that they did not stock Harp or any other Guinness product! Guinness had de listed them!
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They lost all Diagio products?
Sure the pub may as well shut down, their sales would collapse and never recover.
 
wheels said:
It's not as if it's a glass of fine wine...
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A glass of fine wine would probably cost less than the €10-11 it costs for a vodka-redbull! I too hand back that illuminous yellowy green muck thats a cheap imitation of redbull!
 
micmclo said:
They lost all Diagio products?
Sure the pub may as well shut down, their sales would collapse and never recover.
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It was pre diageo and the pub survived/prospered for many years selling Murphys, Beamish, Heineken etc.

These large mulitnational drinks companies aggressively defend their brands.

Does anyone know who manufactures and distributes RedBull in Ireland?
 
I'm pretty sure it's all imported from HQ in Austria.
Don't think they manufacture it here.

Oops, the website confirms it

WHERE AND HOW IS RED BULL ENERGY DRINK PRODUCED?
Red Bull® Energy Drink is exclusively produced in Austria and exported world-wide. All ingredients used for Red Bull® Energy Drink are synthetically produced. Most ingredients are produced by pharmaceutical companies. This guarantees highest quality.
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http://www.redbull.ie/#page=ProductPage.FAQS

It also answers this urban myth
IS TAURINE MADE FROM BULLS' TESTICLES? IS TAURINE A DERIVATIVE OF BULLS' TESTICLES OR SEMEN? :)
 
Just for a laugh I took Tesco's own brand energy drink Kick (very cheap) and compared it with Red Bull. The ingredients lists were exactly the same, right down to their order and quantities. It is often the case that supermarkets own brands are made by the same suppliers as major brands and then repackaged - do you think that is the case here? At any rate they taste exactly the same (revolting).
 
I actually like red bull. I can't stand the taste of the other (cheaper) brands though.

Saying that, if I asked for a V+RB and got shark or something, I'd hand it back and refuse to pay. Same as I would if I ordered a Guinness and got Murphys.
 
I agreed with all your post Slyvester except the last line as I love the taste of Red Bull.
You are right about Tesco Kick, exact same ingredients as Red Bull and at 89c for 1litre it’s very good value compared to Red Bull
It’s the students drink of choice around exam time!
 
i worked in a pub a few years ago and on my first day the boss clearly told me that we didnt stock britvic and if someone asked for it i had to explain that we didnt stock it and only had club orange. He was very careful that all the staff knew this, i always thought it was a legal thing that he had to do.
 
There is an issue in busy pubs / nightclubs.. I have worked in them.

It goes like this..

shouting ... 'Vodka and Red Bull please'
'We only have Shark, it's more or less the same'
What?
'WE ONLY HAVE SHARK!"
"WHAT?"
"WE ONLY HAVE SHARK!"'
'oh, what's the difference?'
'!!?!?!??!.. FO"
'WHAT?'

etc etc
place gone in queue.... too busy to wait for him... eventually you just throw out the Shark, if they complain they complain... no problem, take back the Shark, what else can you do?

If it's a quite pub the above doesn't apply...

If you're concerned do this..
'Do you have Red Bull?'
'No, only Shark'
.. thinking quickly...
either 'OK, Shark so..'
or
'alternative drink'
or alternative pub
 
micmclo said:
I agreed with all your post Slyvester except the last line as I love the taste of Red Bull.
You are right about Tesco Kick, exact same ingredients as Red Bull and at 89c for 1litre it’s very good value compared to Red Bull
It’s the students drink of choice around exam time!
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I don't like the taste, but it certainly has its place in my life. I use it when I'm driving from Cork to Bangor, normally buying it at a petrol stop in Dublin. Keeps me going those last 2 hours. Actually it keeps me going well into the wee hours! :D
 
When I worked as a lounge boy, part of my job was to pour bottles of Boru Vodka into empty bottles of Smirnoff that were on display behind the bar. Also when tables were being cleared of empty glasses and bottles, any bottle that looked like it could be resold was recapped and put at the back of the fridge for resale later in the night. This is a very well known and popular pub.

They paid us a pittance. Clearly breaking all employment laws for 16 year old children. I would start at 5pm on a friday and be lucky to finish at 3am and start all over at 11am on saturday. We were allowed a 25 minute break which had to be taken between 7pm and 9pm, if it was too busy to take one, tough luck. More often than not the manager would make us stock the keg room at 3am while the older staff helped themself to the bar. We weren't even allowed a free can of coke, nor a cent towards a taxi.

I can only imagine how badly they must treat the foreign staff they employ now who are fearful of losing their jobs.
 
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