Has BuzzBallz Latest Collab Been Canceled?

BuzzBallz is no stranger to playful flavors, cheeky merch, and collabs you might not have expected. Over the summer, the cocktail brand’s World Cup outing felt like a natural fit – what with the ball-shaped receptacles of it all – and its August Pop-Tarts collab, which saw it release Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Frosted S’Mores-flavored options, was definitely out there. 

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That last collaboration may be coming to an end sooner than expected, though. Here’s what you should know about it.

BuzzBallz Pop-Tarts Collab

According to Bloomberg, Pop-Tarts is bringing its collaboration with BuzzBallz to a close, and it looks as though that’s happening earlier than expected. The publication has reported that Mars has cancelled all future marketing for the release, according to a press release from the US Alcohol Policy Alliance, which implies that it could be wrapping up fairly soon.

The apparent cancellation comes after over 30 public health groups asked Mars to end the collaboration, due to fears that it could promote underage drinking. “Childhood brands should not become tools for normalizing or promoting alcohol consumption,” stated the US Alcohol Policy Alliance’s CEO, Mike Marshall. The organization is also urging Mars to rule out any future co-branding partnerships with alcohol companies. Mars has also confirmed that no more Pop-Tarts BuzzBallz would be produced, but it’s unclear whether that’s as a consequence of the cancellation, or because the limited-edition flavors had already been through their production run. BuzzBallz owner Sazerac, meanwhile, has argued that the drinks were never intended to be consumed by anyone under legal age, and that they’re clearly labeled as alcoholic products. 

Ready-To-Drink Cocktails

News of the collaboration’s apparent early finish comes at a time when ready-to-drink cocktails have never been so popular, and alcohol companies have been working to rapidly release their own versions. RTD cocktails have now overtaken vodka as the top-selling alcohol in the US, and they’re especially popular amongst younger drinkers. This, in turn, has led to more youth-focused products and cocktails being produced, which arguably seek to capture the attention of a young adult Gen Z audience, especially by using a sense of nostalgia.

Mars, meanwhile, has been gearing up for the holidays in other areas of its extensive brand and product range. It recently dropped its Summerween Boo Box (which we were big fans of), and its Christmas candies will be arriving in stores thick and fast in the coming weeks.