To want Porn Star Martinis to be renamed?

[samarrange]

I don't think I'm a prude, but I feel a bit self-conscious ordering "A porn star martini, please". It's a shame because I quite like them.

We went into a "family-friendly" bar from a chain called "The Lounges" (every one has a different name, like Albero Lounge, Edmundo Lounge, etc) and on the menu there it says "Passion Fruit Martini... a cocktail fit for a movie star", which nicely conveys the idea without everyone having to explain to their curious 7-year-old reading the menu what a porn star is.

(The same chain has also renamed Sex On The Beach" to "Lounge On The Beach"... that one wouldn't put me off so much in the original form, but I don't like peach flavour drinks anyway 😂.)

It’s a tacky, sleazy name; passion fruit martini is much better. Not that it’s a martini anyway

It’s all so tawdry and adolescent, giving things suggestive names. If you’re old enough to drink them, you should be far too old to find it a name like Sex On The Beach amusing.

There was a thread on here a few years ago about this and I think it was when M&S used to call them porn star martinis, that's probably why they changed the name to passion star martinis. Agree it is a vile name and nothing like sex on the beach, though I would find it slightly embarrassing ordering one of those.

“Slow Comfortable Screw Against The Wall” - because of Sloe gin, Souther Comfort and the ingredients of a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice) and Harvey Wallbanger (Galliano)

I used to work in a bar.

Asshole young men would order this just so they could say it to a young woman. Ho Ho, what merry japes from these rapier-witted fellows

Fuzzy duck, otoh seems reasonable - if you can’t risk ordering it you’ve probably had enough.

It's just the word 'porn'. I don't think it's glamorising or endorsing porn any more than a Bloody Mary is glamorising the slaughter of Protestants under Mary Tudor, or a Corpse Reviver is advocating necromancy, or a Black & Tan is supporting the IRA.

You're entitled to be offended/embarrassed by the word 'porn' in the name of a drink, of course, but I don't that's a reason to change its name. A lot of 'family' restaurants and retailers already call it a passion fruit martini for 'won't someone please think of the children' reasons, but I don't see why a bar for adults should have to do that, really.

Cocktails have always had some risque names - Sex On The Beach, Slippery Nipple, Orgasm and entire family of 'Slow Screw' cocktails, mostly famously the Slow Comfortable Screw and the Slow Comfortable Screw Against The Wall. Lots of them have some pretty dark names too - Bloody Mary, Zombie, Corpse Reviver, Brain Haemorrhage etc.

It sounds like too many disparate things crammed into a glass for the sake of the name - is that about right or does it actually taste nice?

Obviously the bar just being dickish then. No idea what is in it as I saw the name, rolled my eyes, moved on and bought a much cheaper glass of wine instead of a cocktail. Their loss.

I’m not a fan but it is an actual long established cocktail and some people like it.

I don’t like Southern Comfort, it’s awful stuff. And I prefer my sloe gin as an occasional winter warmer, not sloshed into cocktails.

I want a porn star martinis now.

Car Bomb is named as mockery based in ignorance and racism.

It's not remotely the same as someone clutching pearls over words like 'porn', 'sex' or 'orgasm' being used on something only served to adults. We should all be frankly mature enough to not blush at the concept of intercourse being merely mentioned.

I find it far more weird that OP thinks its normal to be sitting necking cocktails during the day with her young children present in a family establishment rather than what its named. What in the middle class suburbia is it where thats not the embarrassing part but saying 'porn' is?

Even if my littlest kid did over hear it somewhere family friendly in the middle of the day and asked I would probably just deflect with a 'oh, I think its a type of chess piece, do you know the game chess?' simple slide and change of subject.

@housethatbuiltme
We should all be frankly mature enough to not blush at the concept of intercourse being merely mentioned

It’s everywhere though, song lyrics that are awful, makeup names that are ridiculously and needlessly sexual, comedy chat shows that just wind up crude and embarrassing, adverts that are full of dreary innuendo, sex toy ads popping up on news websites... When is it ok for women to say they are uncomfortable with it all? Women are being told to speak their mind except when it comes to public levels of decency and then they are told to shut up.

We should all be frankly mature enough to not blush at the concept of intercourse being merely mentioned.

don’t worry, most of us are. Objecting to the use of ‘porn star’ in this context isn’t ’blushing’ about normal sex ffs.

Even if my littlest kid did over hear it somewhere family friendly in the middle of the day and asked I would probably just deflect with a 'oh, I think its a type of chess piece, do you know the game chess?' simple slide and change of subject.

thats a strategy which could come back to bite you, or your kid if they join the chess club!

Can’t see the problem, kids shouldn’t be reading the cocktail menu and I can honestly say I never drank cocktails with my children when young, cocktails are expensive so for proper nights out not when kids are in tow. A passion fruit martini isn’t actually the same anyway, porn star martinis have a shot of Prosecco in addition

i agree with you OP
as for a Car Bomb cocktail.. that’s horrendous

words like 'porn', 'sex' or 'orgasm'

One of these things is not like the others.

Pornstar Martinis are my absolute drink of choice. I always ask for a passion fruit martini and have never once been misunderstood. Just use passion fruit martini.

I find it far more weird that OP thinks its normal to be sitting necking cocktails during the day with her young children present in a family establishment

FWIW I wasn't with DC when I went into that bar. But it was around 7pm and there were plenty of family groups on other tables ordering food and, yes, shock horror, cocktails. All printed together on one laminated menu.

Can’t see the problem, kids shouldn’t be reading the cocktail menu

A lot of places have only one menu. The place I mentioned in the OP has everything (food, soft drinks, beer, cocktails) on one laminated A3, so the "Passion Fruit Martini" is about 20cm from the Chicken Nuggets. And for example here is a menu with Porn Star Martini and a Kids Menu in the same booklet.

And again, it isn't just about the kids. Some women will not feel comfortable asking for this item from a male server, or in front of a mixed group. I can guarantee you that if you ask for one at a works outing, someone will make an inappropriate comment or "way-hay" noise.

When I was on holiday in Turkey the hotel renamed pornstar martinis as pop star martinis. So much nicer.

That’s just weird 😂

The “porn” thing is because of the “passion” fruit. A passion fruit martini makes much more sense than a pop star martini.

Ask for a passion fruit martini.

It’s because they’re not as ubiquitous as the “Porn Star Martini” these days. Prosecco has a lot to answer for!

I agree OP if it’s in a family place then call it a Passionfruit Martini. Anyway at least sex and orgasm are genuine words in our language. Porn doesn’t need to be used as much as it is. The “pornification” of society and increasingly its exposure to younger people just sickens me. I hate the term “porn” being used to describe anything like property/food etc

Similarly I can’t stand Nars and other cosmetics companies using names like Deep Throat and Orgasm for blusher. Just fuck off.

A place near me calls them OnlyFans Martinis.

Really, if porn is the first thing that comes to mind for someone on hearing the word “passion” then I’d wager they were a grubby little incel.

Theres nothing passionate or starry about a poor (literally), trafficked woman being forced into sex work.

I always see them listed as Passion fruit martinis now.