A Calgary restaurant is apologizing after posting an Instagram video promoting a cocktail served with a ‘dime bag’ garnish drew criticism online.
The video, now taken down, was posted to Cleaver Calgary’s Instagram page on Jan. 2 and showed a server holding a small ziplock bag of white powder. The restaurant confirmed to Global News the white substance was icing sugar.
The video was posted to promote the grand opening of Gringo St. Calgary, Cleaver’s new sister restaurant scheduled to open Friday, Jan. 5.
In a statement, the restaurant said it does not condone the use of illegal drugs.
“We absolutely do not condone or encourage the use of illegal substances of any kind and had incorrectly presumed that our blatant imitation and mockery of such use would have been understood and received in an amusing way,” Alex Rivera said in the statement.
“We sincerely apologize for any offense we may have caused and have removed all imagery depicting content of a sensitive nature.”
Addictions and recovery advocate Trevor Loria with Simon House Recovery Centre called the post shortsighted and insensitive.
“It was inappropriate. It was insensitive and it was a bit naïve, considering two people every day are dying in Alberta from drug overdoses,” he said. “The biggest part of it is it’s disappointing to see our community would take such a laid back approach.”
“They missed the mark.”
Latest numbers from 2017 show a 40 per cent increase in opioid-related deaths. In the first nine months of 2017, 482 Albertans died as a a result of opioid-related overdoses. During the same time in 2016, 346 people died.
Loria said the sensitive nature of drug addictions and abuse need to be taken seriously.
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