gair rhydd Monday October 10 2011 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 958
We got Zwack-ed! Cardiff University students drink record amounts of Union’s new alcoholic drink Hannah Pendleton News Editor As of Wednesday October 5 2011 Cardiff University students consumed the UK’s remaining supplies of Zwack, Cardiff Student Union’s newly introduced alcoholic replacement to Jagermeister. Over the course of Freshers’, Cardiff University students drank over £52,000 worth of Zwack, rapidly turning it into the fastest launching product Cardiff Student’s Union has ever seen. Zwack, which was first established back in 1790, is a fusion of herbs and spices from Hungary. Now it has reached the bars in Cardiff Student’s Union and is beginning to replace the popular brand, Jagermeister, as the top selling shot, averaging over 100 bottles a day being sold. With the Union’s unusually high demand for the product, its popularity resulted in depleted supplies of the liqueur and the decision was made to send a van to Scotland, to obtain the last of the UK’s stock. Shortly after the commencement of Cardiff ’s Freshers, Zwack’s national distributer, Diagio, ran out of stock. Joshua James, a second year Law student said, “My mate and I did six - it really messed up my stomach the next day but I’d probably do it again because its dirt cheap.” Alec Care, a fourth year engineering student also said he drinks it because of it’s cheap price. Mike Wride, a second year in Medicine, said: “It tastes just like Jager but it’s just as cheap and gets me just as drunk.” When the Hungarian liqueur went on sale for the first time in Solus, Jagermeister outsold it five to one in the opening hour. However, the introduction of the beverage, soon began to show its potential; by the end of the night Jagermeister had been outsold by the newcomer. Similarly, the following night, more than double the amount of sales in Jagermeis-
ter for the comparative day last year was sold in Zwack. Remaining Freshers club nights and the Freshers Ball, saw the Union’s top selling product, Vodka, fall behind the volumes of Zwack bought in. Adam Packman, both a third year in Environmental Geosciences and a member of staff at The Taff stated: “People just can’t get enough of the stuff.” “Once you have Zwack you never go back,” stated Ryan Shippey, a second year studying History. However, despite its success so far, there are still students who have not been converted by the new ‘bomb’. Priya Gupta, an MBA student, doesn’t prefer the Union’s alternative to Jager: “It’s like Jager but I like Jager much better.” Furthermore, Becca Smithers, a second year studying Bioscience, stated: “I have never even heard of Zwack.” Finance and Commercial Officer, Nick Matthew, commented on Zwack’s presence in the Union stating: “In order for the Student’s Union to continue being the best night time entertainment venue in town, we need the right kind of lubricant, and I think that Zwack fits the bill nicely. It’s got a great taste to it, as well as very clever branding. “We’d love to mirror our success with ‘Relentless’, and become the world’s largest retailer of Zwack.” Cardiff Students Union currently stands as the countries biggest distributer of the energy drink ‘Relentless’. Now Zwack has joined Relentless as one of the Union’s top selling products. Nick added: “Drink sensibly guys, be safe, and enjoy your nights out in the Union.” Following Zwack’s success in Cardiff, the family who own Zwack are planning a trip to Cardiff Student’s Union soon, in order to celebrate the success that the Union has seen selling Zwack.
Cardiff Calling
!
s
e id
e
e Fr
in