Bacchus (Korean: 박카스) is a non-carbonated South Korean energy drink, first launched in 1963. It has been called Bacchus-F before a change in formula in the 1990s, after which it was known as Bacchus-D to note the increased amount of Taurine in the product (2000mg). Both formulas are manufactured by Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., part of the Dong-A Socio Group; and is also distributed in the United States under the Dong-A America Corporation in a 3.3 oz glass bottle (approximately 1/3 the size of a Red Bull).
Contents
History
Bacchus has been popular in South Korea for many years. Originally it was sold in pharmacies as an 'herbal medicine' to prevent colds and cure hangovers, rather than as an energy drink. The Bacchus D and F formula's are both manufactured and sold in South Korea at this time; neither line has been discontinued. The use of Bacchus-F among college aged adolescents is highly prevalent.
It has recently risen to prominence in American culture alongside other popular energy drinks consumed in combination with alcohol, such as Vodka-Red Bull. The most common form of consumption is the "Bacchus Bomb", which is produced by pouring a full 3.3 oz bottle of Bacchus into a cup and subsequently dropping a shot glass filled with vodka into the cup, with the resulting mixture being consumed as rapidly as possible.
Controversy
The drink is similar to the preexisting Japanese drink Lipovitan not only in ingredients but also in bottle and packaging design. There is a strong suspicion that Dong-A Pharmaceutical plagiarized Japanese Lipovitan.
In popular culture
Ingredients
Bacchus contains the following ingredients: