For those of you who wake up and chug Red Bull (looking at you, Alex Stupak), PepsiCo’s out to get you. The company is launching a new Mountain Dew drink that’s intended for breakfast time. Kickstart is made with “real fruit juice” (read: 5 percent juice), “the right amount of kick” (a potentially lethal jolt of caffeine), and artificial sweeteners. Though Kickstart does have far less caffeine than energy drinks like Red Bell, PepsiCo’s taken the liberty of labeling the two flavors “energizing orange citrus” and “energizing fruit punch,” and has packaged it to look like Monster. Subtle. Maybe Taco Bell inspired this — in May, it introduced an awful “mixology” beverage called MTN DEW A.M., consisting of Mountain Dew and orange juice. Kickstart will be available nationwide starting February 25; it’ll appear at college libraries and morning pregame parties on the 26th. [Earlier, Earlier, Earlier, AP]
