By Janet Silvera, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
AN ABSOLUTE adventure - great fun, beautiful people, unlimited food and drink, even a free shuttle as service as 'brawta'. Negril was definitely the place to be Thursday night.
Thousands of patrons consumed hundreds, possibly thousands of litres of Appleton Jamaica Rum and Red Stripe Beer at two blockbuster parties, as a quiet storm brewed between the islands' two largest producers of alcoholic beverage.
Appleton Jamaica Rum and Red Stripe were fighting a branding war in Negril. Between them they had the resort town 'locked down', feting loyal rum and beer drinkers who had converged on the town dubbed 'Temptation Isle', with all the drinks they could possible consume.
"It's not because Appleton is here, why we are here, we go where the consumers are," was the reaction of Zachary Harding, the Brand Manager of Smirnoff Ice, responding to questions about the competition. "If they weren't here, we would still be here, we only compete with ourselves."
From as early as 11:00 p.m., both sides of the Norman Manley Boulevard were lined with cars as Kingstonians and Montegonians who literally booked all the rooms in the town flocked to the party venues. They, plus the party people from Westmoreland and the rest of the island, packed into the Jungle Night Club and Risky Business.
The entrance to the Jungle Night Club was draped in red cloth, depicting a Red Stripe haven. The venue took a Hollywood type look and feel, all dressed up and with six big-screen projectors showcasing Red Stripe and Red Stripe only.
SWEATING PROFUSELY
At least a thousand found themselves into this party centre. Their bodies seemed glued to each other, some sweating profusely, some oblivious to anything other than the music coming from the turntables of Code Red, Bass Odyssey, Slim and DJ Gemini.
Outside the gates to the property, jerk chicken, sugar cane, jelly coconuts and cigarette vendors did not have hands to sell their wares and taxi drivers made a killing. Young women displayed some of their best assets and the men shamelessly feasted their eyes.
Just up the road, another type of party was in full swing. On entering this venue, the difference was clearly apparent; throngs of yuppies had invaded Risky Business, each one with a cup of Appleton rum in hand.
"This is the real Negril, the real party," said Wray and Nephew's Jomo Cato, as he reflected on the fun and excitement being experienced around him.
Resulting from the influx of patrons who attended the parties hosted by the beverage giants there was not a room available in Negril. "In my 10 years in the industry I have never seen it like this, not even during Spring Break have people been so desperate to find rooms," said Carey Wallace, the co-owner of the Jungle, and the Mariner's Hotel chain.
According to him, the good fortunes spread as far as Savanna-la-Mar. "The performers of Fully Loaded could not get any rooms, they have been forced to stay outside of Negril," he said.
Appleton's four days of fun includes 'Fully Loaded' last night and 'Stages' on today at Wavz Negril Beach. Red Stripe and Smirnoff Black Ice all-inclusive parties take will control of Bourbon Beach, Margaritaville and The Jungle.
