Manama: Families in Taef in western Saudi Arabia have called for action against a local restaurant for promoting juices “exclusively for married couples”.
In complaints published by local daily Makkah, parents said that they were shocked to see the list of juices referring to special drinks for married couples, insinuating an aphrodisiacal composition.
“When you are at the restaurant and your children ask you about these specific juices, what kind of answers could you provide?” Khalid Al Muhawesh, a parent, was quoted as asking. “It is a ridiculous and embarrassing situation that the authorities should not allow,” he said.
Some of the names on the exclusively for married couples list were Viagra, Super Viagra, Arabian Nights, and Lovers’ Panache.
Fahd Al Utaibi said that all people were aware that the “branding” was just a commercial trick to earn more money.
“It is all right to make money, but it has to be done in a polite and acceptable manner, not by insinuating sexual powers,” he said.
Social norms should be preserved and they should not be transgressed for the sake of taking more riyals from customers, especially as the advertisement is not genuine, other parents reportedly told the daily.
Trade officials said that their primary concern was the composition of the drinks and their compliance with the regulations, but would look into complaints by consumers regarding other matters.
