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The Irish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I was first to see UK's biggest live action show with 1,000 time-travelling performers – it's as incredible as Disney
THERE' S a little corner of England that's bringing the epic tale of Britain to life every Saturday over the summer - and I was one of the first to watch their new show. If you've never heard of Kynren in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham , you're not alone. Advertisement 4 I went to the brand new live action show in the UK Credit: NNP 4 My kids were obsessed with every minute of it Credit: catherine lofthouse But this summer spectacle, featuring more than 1,000 performers, animals, historic vehicles, music, special effects and pyrotechnics, has been so successful over its first decade that it's expanding to include daytime shows and interactive experiences next year. Over an hour and a half, scenes that tell the tale of our homeland, history and heritage come to life across the 7.5-acre outdoor stage. The 1,000 professionally trained volunteers might be amateurs, but this incredible cast put on one of the best shows I've seen, one that really has to be seen to be believed. It's the sort of performance that you could watch time and again and still spot something new every time. Advertisement Read more on theme parks The very high standards of everything at Kynren, from the food and interactive Viking village pre-show to the powerful performance itself with historic Auckland Castle as its backdrop, means I can't wait to see its next chapter - The Victorian village from the much-loved Cornwall , which closed last year, will find a new home here. We even had a sneak peek of what's to come when the site's most recent residents, the feathery flock from its bird show, made an appearance before the main performance. As well as birds of prey, parrots flew overhead and grey crowned cranes flapped in to forage for food on the grass. Advertisement Most read in Family The Lost Feather will be one of the first five daytime shows on offer next summer. My boys aged 12 and 10 were absolutely enthralled by the evening's entertainment from start to finish. The UK attraction reopening this summer without any rides or rollercoasters – but parents say their kids love it I think you know you've found a real winner when every family member struggles to pick just one scene or moment as their favourite. The whole event is epic - from Advertisement Battle scenes, stunts, celebrations, historic moments, lines from Shakespeare - it's sometimes difficult to know where to look at there's so much to take in from one moment to the next. It was such a high-quality perfromance, I'd say it rivaled a live Disney show too. I really enjoyed seeing the steam engine chugging along complete with passengers, to mark 200 years of train travel after the launch of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in this very part of the world two centuries ago. 4 I can't wait for the new theme park next year Credit: catherine lofthouse Advertisement Drawing on the local community is a key part of If you're looking for somewhere to stay to make a weekend of it, you can't beat the Park Head Hotel, part of the Auckland Project, a regeneration scheme that's breathing new life back into the tourist spots of this historic town. Our two-bedroom suite was perfect for larger families and there were lots of little nods to Kynren at this recently refurbished 18th-century coaching inn, including quirky Quentin Blake parrot wallpaper in the toilets and a chapel stone from Auckland Castle that put my boys in mind of the story of Arthur and the sword in the stone. There won't be any rides at the new Storied Lands, but I've no doubt it will have all the wow factor it needs to keep visitors entranced, entertained and immersed in history. Advertisement suits this awe-inspiring spectacular, rooted in the past, perfect in the present and looking forward to its future . Tickets cost from £30 per adult and £20 per child - use code July10 to get 10 per cent off if you book before the end of July. 4 Tickets start from £30 Credit: North News and Pictures
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
How lethal £1 ‘jungle pills' that cause monkey hallucinations have ravaged UK town where ‘zombies' pass out in bus lanes
One batch of the dodgy pills killed five people in 24 hours DEADLY HIT How lethal £1 'jungle pills' that cause monkey hallucinations have ravaged UK town where 'zombies' pass out in bus lanes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITHIN minutes of gulping down a mystery pill he'd bought for a quid after a heavy night of drinking, Bryan Heslop blacked out. The former lifeguard, 63, was later found by his nephew, unable to walk or talk, and when he regained consciousness he began hallucinating monkeys. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Drug users in a 'zombie-like' stupor are seen on the streets of Gateshead Credit: NNP 11 Bryan Heslop had a terrifying experience after taking a £1 pill Credit: NNP 11 A woman in Gateshead curled over in a ball after taking drugs Credit: NNP Bryan was one of the lucky ones. He believes the cheap drug was part of a terrifying new wave of 'Russian roulette' pills that are flooding the streets of Gateshead, in Tyne and Wear. Just last month Northumbria Police issued a warning after a suspected dangerous batch of drugs was believed to be behind the deaths of five people within 24 hours. It followed the passing of a man in his 40s from Harlow Green - close to the famous Angel of the North - and four others, who suffered cardiac arrests. Five men and two women have been arrested and remain under investigation in relation to the supply of the substances. Now worried locals tell The Sun their once-proud northern town is now 'riddled to bits" with drugs, which some fear are up to triple the normal strength and 'made in jungles', not labs. It's led to scenes of homeless addicts stumbling around in zombie-like stupors, putting people off visiting the high street. Bryan believes the mystery drugs are "blues", which is slang for the opiod painkiller oxycodone, or other unknown drugs, which can be lethal if overdosed. Recalling his 'moment of stupidity', he said: 'All I can remember was boom, lights out. "My nephew came from Newcastle to look for me. He found me and picked me up but I couldn't even walk or talk. "I'm an old man, so I shouldn't have taken it, but when you're drunk, you will take anything. The northern town that's become flooded with deadly black market pills from China "I was hallucinating the next day. I woke up and I thought there was a monkey in my bed. "It is Russian roulette sometimes with what goes around. There have been loads of people dying around here because of dodgy drugs. "Ten of my friends have, and another guy I was speaking to had another ten, so we're talking about 20 people - the youngest I lost was 23 years old. "These drugs come piling in from abroad. This place is riddled to bits with drugs. "I would never normally take something on the street that's handed and the penny should have dropped when the tablet only cost £1 - that is too cheap. "Then the dealer told me £2 instead and that's when I necked it. I can't remember anything after that. I didn't have a clue what was inside it." 11 This woman, believed to be under the influence of drugs, was later spoken to by police Credit: NNP 11 Locals say their high street is crumbling Credit: NNP Brian added: "In Gateshead people will gather around the centre asking if I want to buy this or that. "Why are they pushing it when they know it could be killer batches? It happens every single day. This centre is the main pitch, near to the CCTV cameras." Another man, who wished to remain anonymous, said the issue of "dodgy" drugs arises when dealers in other countries don't weigh them properly. He explained: "It's a problem in Gateshead, but it's not just here. It's Newcastle, it's Whitley Bay and places like that. They aren't made inside proper labs. They're made in jungles and they come across just like your dodgy cigarettes Gateshead local "In Gateshead I was there when my mate went over. He was a very good friend of mine and it was horrible. I have lost about four or five people since Christmas. "If you want to know why there are bad batches going around, it's because you don't know what's inside the drugs. "They aren't made inside proper labs. They're made in jungles and they come across just like your dodgy cigarettes. "If you get a batch of tablets, the box might say it's 30 milligrams, but inside you could get one that's just 10mg, or one that has 100mg. They don't get weighed properly." £120million drugs bust 11 Drug baron Peter Lamb was jailed for 17 years Credit: NCA 11 He smuggled £120million worth of cocaine inside rolls of artificial grass Credit: NCA 11 Mum Lisa Birnie gets 'anxious' walking around the town centre now due to the drug problem Credit: NNP For locals born and bred in the town, the issue is stark and rotting the community to its core. A dark underworld of drug dealers is plaguing Gateshead - including baron Peter Lamb, 66, jailed last week for smuggling £120million of cocaine hidden in rolls of artificial grass. The National Crime Agency said he planned to 'flood UK streets with drugs' after receiving 20 deliveries of the Class A substance from the Netherlands, which he stashed in warehouses in Stockton-on-Tees and Newcastle. The vile work of Lamb - who was sentenced to 17 years on June 27 - and other dealers has contributed to 77 drug-related deaths in Gateshead between 2020 and 2023. That works out at 13.7 per 100,000 people losing their lives, more than double the national rate of 5.5, and the effects are clear to see in Gateshead. At midday when The Sun visited this week, one inebriated woman was curled into a ball outside a shop, while another man was seen in a zombie-like state strewn across the curb by a bus stop. A group of men congregated around the town's refurbished Trinity Square complex in full view of shoppers. The development was installed in 2011 as part of a £150m regeneration which included a cinema, new shops and bars. You get people sitting around here and they will search inside ash trays to see what they can get. It's definitely a different place to what I grew up in Sean McGarrell NHS worker Lisa Birnie, 50, said: "I don't like coming down to the centre anymore. I used to walk through it all the time but now it gives me anxiety. "I would come on my own but you see people on drugs all of the time. "It's not just drugs either, they drink on the seats around here. It's more so older people that you see on them. "You get people in their twenties but it reaches people in their fifties and sixties. I wouldn't even take the kids to the cinema now, it's that bad around here." Sean McGarrell, 47, said: "I hadn't heard of what happened at Harlow Green but [drug-taking] is a big issue in Gateshead. "I see [users] off their faces walking around like zombies, that's what it's like during the day. "You see them around Tesco and places around the centre when you turn a corner. "I don't know specifically what they take but I imagine it's anything they can get their hands on. "It's hard to know if there is enough help out there for them. I suppose it's up to them if they want to get it. "You get people sitting around here and they will search inside ash trays to see what they can get. It's definitely a different place to what I grew up in." 'Diabolical situation' 11 Sean McGarrell said seeing people 'off their faces walking around like zombies' is normal now in Gateshead Credit: NNP 11 Homeless Kevin Kent said drugs being sold on the street are getting worryingly stronger Credit: NNP Figures released by Gateshead Council revealed that drug use contributed to 19.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 - that's up by a whopping 339 per cent from 1990. Homeless 42-year-old Kevin Kent sits around the corner perched in his sleeping bag while passersby offer him cash and food. Kevin openly admits he is a crack cocaine addict and was hospitalised twice last week because of a bad batch of tablets. He said: "It is an epidemic in Gateshead and has been for ten years. I love crack, it is a habit. You wish your next hit will get you that little bit higher. "It's a diabolical situation. The drugs get stamped on before they get here, meaning they're contaminated It is an epidemic in Gateshead and has been for ten years Kevin Kent "The less you pay, the more it's been stamped and therefore more dangerous. But these days it's mainly the tablets that are causing the problems. "Lots of my friends have died because of dodgy drugs, but they don't get classed as 'dodgy' - instead, people say they took too much. "I had some blues the other day which came from India and ended up in hospital, I didn't know what was inside them. "Unless you grow the crop yourself, you don't know what you're taking, but that's the risk I take because I'm an addict. "If you cut up cocaine you can tell its strength depending on its colour, but with tablets you can't." Death-count rising 11 Recovering addict Justin Collier is glad he no longer uses drugs Credit: NNP Justin Collier, a 54-year-old council worker, originally from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said: "Drugs is an issue in Gateshead but it's one that nobody wants to look at. "It is a societal problem. We push them to one side and only look at ourselves - there is our normal life, and there's an underworld that most people don't know about. "Years ago it used to be cocaine and crack, but now there's more things you can get your hands on online. "I am in recovery myself and thank God I'm not addicted anymore. A lot of what they are taking is opioids, but what type of pain are they trying to kill? "They are human beings and I sympathise with them, but I don't condone what they get up to." Justin added: "There is always hope, and that's what you have to cling onto." Gateshead Council's Director of Public Health, Alice Wiseman, said: "It's incredibly sad to hear about a life lost to drugs in our area. "We know that far too many lives are lost to drugs in Gateshead every year.' We know that far too many lives are lost to drugs in Gateshead every year Alice Wiseman, Gateshead Council's Director of Public Health She told us there have been 300 deaths by drugs in the 20 years to 2022 and the number of losses are quickly rising. "Behind each number is a story of a life lost too soon, and of loved ones left behind, grappling with grief,' Alice said. "Reducing the stigma around drugs in our society is the best way we can support people living with addiction to get the help they need. "While the only way to avoid all risks is to not take any drugs which are not prescribed for you, people who use drugs can reduce the risk of harm by never using alone, avoiding mixing substances, including alcohol, and making sure to look out for any signs of an overdose – including loss of consciousness, shallow or absent breathing, and blue coloured lips or fingertips.' GETTING HELP: If you think that you have a drug addiction then please contact your GP. You can also visit FRANK for honest information about drugs and to find local treatment services. If you are having trouble finding the right help, call the FRANK drugs helpline on 03001236600 Or click here to visit the NHS website for more advice and support Addressing drug users directly, she said 'you are not alone' and that 'help is always available', signposting them to The Recovery Partnership Gateshead. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said the force is investigating a potential link between the death of the man in his 40s and four other cardiac arrests. They said: "Given the similarities of these reports from the same area, it is important that we ensure this warning message is shared far and wide. "If you are a drug user, or know anybody struggling with addiction, please be mindful of this message as we suspect this particular batch could have fatal consequences. "Anyone with information is asked to get in touch by sending a DM [direct message] or use live chat and report forms on the Force's website." For help, the Recovery Partnership Gateshead is a drug and alcohol recovery service with a main base on Jackson Street. The team are contactable weekdays between 9am and 5pm on 0191 594 782.
The Irish Sun
06-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
How lethal £1 ‘jungle pills' that cause monkey hallucinations have ravaged UK town where ‘zombies' pass out in bus lanes
WITHIN minutes of gulping down a mystery pill he'd bought for a quid after a heavy night of drinking, Bryan Heslop blacked out. The former lifeguard, 63, was later found by his nephew, unable to walk or talk, and when he regained consciousness he began hallucinating monkeys. Advertisement 11 Drug users in a 'zombie-like' stupor are seen on the streets of Gateshead Credit: NNP 11 Bryan Heslop had a terrifying experience after taking a £1 pill Credit: NNP 11 A woman in Gateshead curled over in a ball after taking drugs Credit: NNP Bryan was one of the lucky ones. He believes the cheap drug was part of a terrifying new wave of Just last month Northumbria Police issued a warning after a suspected dangerous batch of drugs was believed to be behind the deaths of five people within 24 hours. It followed the passing of a man in his 40s from Harlow Green - close to the famous Angel of the North - and four others, who suffered cardiac arrests. Five men and two women have been arrested and remain under investigation in relation to the supply of the substances. Advertisement READ MORE FEATURES Now worried locals tell The Sun their once-proud northern town is now 'riddled to bits" with drugs, which some fear are up to triple the normal strength and 'made in jungles', not labs. It's led to scenes of homeless addicts stumbling around in zombie-like stupors, putting people off visiting the high street. Bryan believes the mystery drugs are "blues", which is slang for the opiod painkiller oxycodone, or other unknown drugs, which can be lethal if overdosed. Recalling his 'moment of stupidity', he said: 'All I can remember was boom, lights out. Advertisement Most read in The Sun "My nephew came from Newcastle to look for me. He found me and picked me up but I couldn't even walk or talk. "I'm an old man, so I shouldn't have taken it, but when you're drunk, you will take anything. The northern town that's become flooded with deadly black market pills from China "I was hallucinating the next day. I woke up and I thought there was a monkey in my bed. "It is Russian roulette sometimes with what goes around. There have been loads of people dying around here because of dodgy drugs. Advertisement "Ten of my friends have, and another guy I was speaking to had another ten, so we're talking about 20 people - the youngest I lost was 23 years old. "These drugs come piling in from abroad. This place is riddled to bits with drugs. "I would never normally take something on the street that's handed and the penny should have dropped when the tablet only cost £1 - that is too cheap. "Then the dealer told me £2 instead and that's when I necked it. I can't remember anything after that. I didn't have a clue what was inside it." Advertisement 11 This woman, believed to be under the influence of drugs, was later spoken to by police Credit: NNP 11 Locals say their high street is crumbling Credit: NNP Brian added: "In Gateshead people will gather around the centre asking if I want to buy this or that. "Why are they pushing it when they know it could be killer batches? It happens every single day. This centre is the main pitch, near to the CCTV cameras." Advertisement Another man, who wished to remain anonymous, said the issue of "dodgy" drugs arises when dealers in other countries don't weigh them properly. He explained: "It's a problem in Gateshead, but it's not just here. It's Newcastle, it's Whitley Bay and places like that. They aren't made inside proper labs. They're made in jungles and they come across just like your dodgy cigarettes Gateshead local "In Gateshead I was there when my mate went over. He was a very good friend of mine and it was horrible. I have lost about four or five people since Christmas. "If you want to know why there are bad batches going around, it's because you don't know what's inside the drugs. Advertisement "They aren't made inside proper labs. They're made in jungles and they come across just like your dodgy cigarettes. "If you get a batch of tablets, the box might say it's 30 milligrams, but inside you could get one that's just 10mg, or one that has 100mg. They don't get weighed properly." £120million drugs bust 11 Drug baron Peter Lamb was jailed for 17 years Credit: NCA 11 He smuggled £120million worth of cocaine inside rolls of artificial grass Credit: NCA Advertisement 11 Mum Lisa Birnie gets 'anxious' walking around the town centre now due to the drug problem Credit: NNP For locals born and bred in the town, the issue is stark and rotting the community to its core. A dark underworld of drug dealers is plaguing Gateshead - including baron Peter Lamb, 66, jailed last week for smuggling £120million of cocaine hidden in rolls of artificial grass. The National Crime Agency said he planned to 'flood UK streets with drugs' after receiving 20 deliveries of the Class A substance from the Netherlands, which he stashed in warehouses in Stockton-on-Tees and Newcastle. Advertisement The vile work of Lamb - who was sentenced to 17 years on June 27 - and other dealers has contributed to 77 drug-related deaths in Gateshead between 2020 and 2023. That works out at 13.7 per 100,000 people losing their lives, more than double the national rate of 5.5, and the effects are clear to see in Gateshead. At midday when The Sun visited this week, one inebriated woman was curled into a ball outside a shop, while another man was seen in a zombie-like state strewn across the curb by a bus stop. A group of men congregated around the town's refurbished Trinity Square complex in full view of shoppers. Advertisement The development was installed in 2011 as part of a £150m regeneration which included a cinema, new shops and bars. You get people sitting around here and they will search inside ash trays to see what they can get. It's definitely a different place to what I grew up in Sean McGarrell NHS worker Lisa Birnie, 50, said: "I don't like coming down to the centre anymore. I used to walk through it all the time but now it gives me anxiety. "I would come on my own but you see people on drugs all of the time. "It's not just drugs either, they drink on the seats around here. It's more so older people that you see on them. Advertisement "You get people in their twenties but it reaches people in their fifties and sixties. I wouldn't even take the kids to the cinema now, it's that bad around here." Sean McGarrell, 47, said: "I hadn't heard of what happened at Harlow Green but [drug-taking] is a big issue in Gateshead. "I see [users] off their faces walking around like zombies, that's what it's like during the day. "You see them around Tesco and places around the centre when you turn a corner. Advertisement "I don't know specifically what they take but I imagine it's anything they can get their hands on. "It's hard to know if there is enough help out there for them. I suppose it's up to them if they want to get it. "You get people sitting around here and they will search inside ash trays to see what they can get. It's definitely a different place to what I grew up in." 'Diabolical situation' 11 Sean McGarrell said seeing people 'off their faces walking around like zombies' is normal now in Gateshead Credit: NNP Advertisement 11 Homeless Kevin Kent said drugs being sold on the street are getting worryingly stronger Credit: NNP Figures released by Gateshead Council revealed that drug use contributed to 19.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 - that's up by a whopping 339 per cent from 1990. Homeless 42-year-old Kevin Kent sits around the corner perched in his sleeping bag while passersby offer him cash and food. Kevin openly admits he is a crack cocaine addict and was hospitalised twice last week because of a bad batch of tablets. Advertisement He said: "It is an epidemic in Gateshead and has been for ten years. I love crack, it is a habit. You wish your next hit will get you that little bit higher. "It's a diabolical situation. The drugs get stamped on before they get here, meaning they're contaminated It is an epidemic in Gateshead and has been for ten years Kevin Kent "The less you pay, the more it's been stamped and therefore more dangerous. But these days it's mainly the tablets that are causing the problems. "Lots of my friends have died because of dodgy drugs, but they don't get classed as 'dodgy' - instead, people say they took too much. Advertisement "I had some blues the other day which came from India and ended up in hospital, I didn't know what was inside them. "Unless you grow the crop yourself, you don't know what you're taking, but that's the risk I take because I'm an addict. "If you cut up cocaine you can tell its strength depending on its colour, but with tablets you can't." Death-count rising 11 Recovering addict Justin Collier is glad he no longer uses drugs Credit: NNP Advertisement Justin Collier, a 54-year-old council worker, originally from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said: "Drugs is an issue in Gateshead but it's one that nobody wants to look at. "It is a societal problem. We push them to one side and only look at ourselves - there is our normal life, and there's an underworld that most people don't know about. "Years ago it used to be cocaine and crack, but now there's more things you can get your hands on online. "I am in recovery myself and thank God I'm not addicted anymore. A lot of what they are taking is opioids, but what type of pain are they trying to kill? Advertisement "They are human beings and I sympathise with them, but I don't condone what they get up to." Justin added: "There is always hope, and that's what you have to cling onto." Gateshead Council's Director of Public Health, Alice Wiseman, said: "It's incredibly sad to hear about a life lost to drugs in our area. "We know that far too many lives are lost to drugs in Gateshead every year.' Advertisement We know that far too many lives are lost to drugs in Gateshead every year Alice Wiseman, Gateshead Council's Director of Public Health She told us there have been 300 deaths by drugs in the 20 years to 2022 and the number of losses are quickly rising. "Behind each number is a story of a life lost too soon, and of loved ones left behind, grappling with grief,' Alice said. "Reducing the stigma around drugs in our society is the best way we can support people living with addiction to get the help they need. "While the only way to avoid all risks is to not take any drugs which are not prescribed for you, people who use drugs can reduce the risk of harm by never using alone, avoiding mixing substances, including alcohol, and making sure to look out for any signs of an overdose – including loss of consciousness, shallow or absent breathing, and blue coloured lips or fingertips.' Advertisement GETTING HELP: If you think that you have a drug addiction then please contact your GP. You can also If you are having trouble finding the right help, call the FRANK drugs helpline on 03001236600 Or Addressing drug users directly, she said 'you are not alone' and that 'help is always available', signposting them to The Recovery Partnership Gateshead. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said the force is investigating a potential link between the death of the man in his 40s and four other cardiac arrests. They said: "Given the similarities of these reports from the same area, it is important that we ensure this warning message is shared far and wide. "If you are a drug user, or know anybody struggling with addiction, please be mindful of this message as we suspect this particular batch could have fatal consequences. Advertisement "Anyone with information is asked to get in touch by sending a DM [direct message] or use live chat and report forms on the Force's website." For help, the
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I tried ‘dangerous' Buzzballz cocktails loved by Gen Z – just a couple would leave me on the floor
Scroll down to find out why a nutritionist says the premixed beverages are 'the worst' drinks for your health she has ever come across BUZZING FOR BUZZBALLZ I tried 'dangerous' Buzzballz cocktails loved by Gen Z – just a couple would leave me on the floor Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IN a kaleidoscope of colours and fruity flavours, BuzzBallz are fast becoming the alcoholic tipple of choice among Gen Z this summer. But experts warn the Instagram-worthy orbs are misleadingly boozy, with staggeringly high sugar and carb contents. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 BuzzBallz are fast becoming the alcoholic tipple of choice among Gen Z this summer Credit: NNP The snazzy cans are small enough to fit into a handbag and available for as little as £2.99. However, nutritionist Rachael Gray warned the premixed beverages were 'the worst' drinks for your health that she had ever come across. She told the Sun on Sunday: 'Drinks like these affect the body in all kinds of ways. 'They cause inflammation and dehydration and over time will damage the liver and eyesight. 'They look so appealing. 'You can see how they would appeal to children, which is really worrying. 'The carb and sugar content of these drinks is extremely high. 'For such a small drink, they are very alcoholic. 'That's dangerous as, if you are young, you might not think to look at the volume. 'They don't even look particularly like they're alcoholic. Brits reveal their most underrated parts of a night out with pals 'They could easily be mistaken for an energy drink.' BuzzBallz contain up to 288 calories and 26g of sugar per 200ml drink, making them among the least healthy on the market. They are also a boozy 13.5 per cent proof — as strong as wine. The sugar content, however, means it is much easier to knock them back. There are seven flavours, including Tequila 'Rita, Chili Mango and Pornstar Martini, and their unique packaging makes them stand out on the supermarket shelves. The cans are available at mainstream shops such as Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda, but are cheapest at Aldi, where they cost £2.99. In the past year, sales have tripled due to their affordability and social media presence. TikTok is full of 'before and after' videos demonstrating their effects. One woman, who sank just two of the sugary blends, revealed: 'I have never had a hangover like that in my life. 'I was paralytic.' Another claimed: 'I felt like I'd just drank gasoline.' And a third said: 'I actually don't think those are fit for human consumption.' Snow globe Teacher Merrilee Kick, from Texas, came up with the idea for BuzzBallz while marking papers by the pool in the mid-2000s. It was a baking hot day and the 62-year-old fancied a cocktail in a plastic container rather than a fragile glass. Her inspirations for the eye-catching cans were the spherical shape of a snow globe and some tennis balls. Merrilee, who has two adult sons, got a loan to finance her business and enlisted the help of her family to launch it. BuzzBallz are now sold across the world and, in April 2024, the company was sold for around $500million. Here, we taste test some of the flavours and hear from two women with very different opinions on the tipple. Tequila 'Rita (18g sugar, 219 cals) 'This citrusy cocktail tastes like a toxic Sprite. It's refreshing, but gulp it too fast and it's in danger of taking the skin off the roof of your mouth.' 6 Victoria Williams said: 'This citrusy cocktail tastes like a toxic Sprite' Credit: NNP Strawberry 'Rita (18g sugar, 220 cals) 'I could easily neck the entire drink in less than a minute. It's sweet, potent and delicious. A few more of these and I will be on the floor' 6 Victoria said: 'I could easily neck the entire drink in less than a minute. It's sweet, potent and delicious' Credit: NNP Choc Tease (26g sugar, 279 cals) 'This tastes like a slightly low-rent Baileys. It's creamy, sweet and incredibly boozy. I just want to pour it into an ice-filled tumbler.' 6 Victoria said: 'It's creamy, sweet and incredibly boozy. I just want to pour it into an ice-filled tumbler' Credit: NNP 'PERFECT FOR BEACH AND FESTIVALS' COLLEGE student Izzy Lopez, 19, reckons BuzzBallz are the perfect boozy refresher on long, hot days. Izzy, who lives in Ealing, London, and is studying IT, said: 'BuzzBallz are the must-have drink for Gen Z this summer, especially at festivals and on beach holidays, and they're easy to carry and drink. 6 Izzy Lopez reckons BuzzBallz are the perfect boozy refresher on long, hot days Credit: Olivia West 'The containers and colours are cool and you can pop them in your bag and enjoy one when you're out. 'I like the sweet taste and in some shops they're less than £3. 'It's a cool cost-of-living-beating cocktail for Gen Z. 'All my friends are talking about them. 'They evoke a sense of fun, they're great as a party starter and you can keep the balls afterwards for candle holders. 'They don't taste like alcohol but still give you a fun party buzz. 'My mum loves them too. 'We have a giggle because we're not really drinking we're 'buzzing'.' 'JUST TWO DRINKS KNOCKED ME OUT' MUM-OF-TWO Cindy Powell knows all too well just how dangerous the drinks can be. The 22-year-old said she was 'knocked out' by just a couple of cans at a family party. 6 Cindy Powell said she was 'knocked out' by just a couple of cans at a family party Credit: Roland Leon She explained: 'Just two hit me hard almost immediately. 'I was knocked out and slept for hours. 'What stunned me was how fast I felt the effect – I hadn't even been tired. 'I'm not a big drinker, but two small drinks having such a dramatic impact was scary. 'I woke up feeling dizzy and disoriented. 'Don't be fooled by fun names like Strawberry 'Rita or one looking like chocolate milk. 'Just because they look like toys, you still need to be safe. 'When I found out they had over 13 per cent alcohol, I was shocked.'
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Mum shoved her babysitter down concrete stairs after day boozing at Ladies Day – leaving her with horror injuries
The victim was taken to hospital with a head wound that needed six staples SAVAGE ATTACK Mum shoved her babysitter down concrete stairs after day boozing at Ladies Day – leaving her with horror injuries Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM left her babysitter with "horrific" injuries when she shoved her down concrete stairs after the races. Chloe Bell launched her assault following a long day of booing on Ladies Day at Newcastle racecourse last July. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A mum left her babysitter with "horrific" injuries when she shoved her down concrete stairs at the races Credit: NNP 4 Chloe Bell became embroiled in a scrap with her ex-boyfriend's mum Credit: NNP 4 The 33-year-old had been drinking at the races Credit: NCJMedia The 33-year-old became embroiled in a scrap with her ex-boyfriend's mum, who was babysitting, when she returned home. Newcastle Crown Court heard a "scuffle" ensued between the two women. The victim, 59, was pushed and fell down four concrete outdoor steps. She was taken to hospital with a head wound that needed six staples. Doctors also treated her for a "horrific" open laceration on her arm, as well as hand injuries and bruises. The victim said in an impact statement, which was read in court: "Me and Chloe were so close, she would call me mam and I would call her my daughter. "I can't believe she has done this to me." The victim said the incident has stopped her from sleeping, and her husband had to take off work to care for her. She said it is still "all I think about". Bell, 33, of Blyton Avenue, Sunderland, admitted unlawful wounding. Mr Recorder Jonathan Sandiford sentenced Bell to an 18 month community order with rehabilitation requirements, 40 hours unpaid work and £800 compensation order. The recorder told her: "You had been out at the races in Newcastle, ladies day. As is common on such days people had a lot to drink. You had a lot to drink and it seems from what I have read that was an unusual situation for you. "It seems to me a fair summary of what happened when you returned was effectively, as far as you were concerned, a drunk or intoxicated argument broke out. "You had your hair pulled but you pushed the complainant down the outside steps. I have seen a photograph of them, they are quite high steps and she sustained very unpleasant injuries. "She was taken to hospital and had various scans. I have seen photographs, particularly the injury to her upper left arm which can only be described as a horrific, large open laceration to the arm. "She had significant lacerations to her head and hand, bruising to her legs and bruising to the back and chest. "The emotional impact this had upon her is as much as the physical impact because of the nature of the relationship she had with you. "To your credit, you yourself are horrified at what you have done to her." Recorder Sandiford also told the court Bell was of previous good character, and showed remorse. "There was an element of you being subject to at least having your hair pulled," he added. Nicholas Lane, defending, dubbed the brawl a "spontaneous incident". He said: "She was incredibly close to the complainant. She cannot herself believe she behaved in the way she did. "The court can safely conclude her actions were out of character."
