Outrage over ‘racist’ and ‘misogynist’ bar menu

A recently opened New Zealand bar has sparked outrage for offering cocktails on its app-controlled menu with “racist” and “misogynist” titles.

Wellington-based Orpheus Cocktail Bar & Restaurant describes itself as the “first iPad powered cocktail bar in New Zealand” with the “world’s largest cocktail selection” offering around 5,000 different serves.

Since opening last month, the bar has attracted criticism for a number of offensively named cocktails on its menu, including ‘Pillow Biter’ and ‘Asian Fetish’.

On the bar’s Facebook page, reviewer Raena Jackson-Armitage warned readers: “Stay far away and take your business to a place that has respect for women, our rainbow community, sex workers, and different races.”

Recounting his visit to the bar, blogger Tom Beard wrote in The Wellingtonista: “Without having to look far, we were confronted with some of the most racist, misogynist and homophobic drink names we’d ever encountered.

“We’re not talking about risqué cocktails such as Sex On The Beach or Screaming Orgasms: such things are tiresomely juvenile, but not derogatory. No, these included such gems as ‘Asian Fetish’, ‘Afghanistany Wh***’ and “Pillow Biter’.”

Beard said that bar staff proceeded to remove some the “worst” cocktail names from the menu after his party complained.

In August last year, The Cruise Bar in Sydney, Australia came under fire for serving fruit off the bodies of near-naked women at its relaunch party.