The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has banned special-edition Star Wars-themed Coca-Cala bottles from Disneyland onboard checked and carry-on baggage. It claims the cans look too much like bombs.
First, a picture is in order.
In celebration of the newly opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, Star Wars and Disney teamed up to create a proprietary bottle for Coca-Cola products that would resemble palm-sized thermal detonator grenades. These are available exclusively at Disneyland and the unique bottle caps are protected by a joint patent from Disney and Coca-Cola. The bottle labeling is in the style of the Aurebesh language seen often in the Star Wars franchise.
But they do look like grenades, even with red (Coca-Cola), gray (Diet Coke), and green (Sprite) colors.
@AskTSA I know these look dodgy, but can they be packed in suitcase? Thanks pic.twitter.com/4uILLMX3eL
— Ash Best (@DarkAshNet) August 13, 2019
TSA spokesperson Jim Gregory told the Orange County Register:
Replica items are not allowed on aircraft…
It could create concern that it’s the real thing.
That creates a dilemma for diehard Star Wars fans, who now find that unique souvenirs are prohibited. I wouldn’t be too worried since the TSA misses most real weapons smuggled through airport checkpoints…
Maybe United can save the day and offer these bottles on its special Stars Wars-themed livery…
> Read More: United Airlines Unveils Star Wars Livery
CONCLUSION
Star Wars will open in Orlando tomorrow. If you are visiting this weekend and looking to take home a souvenir, best to leave the “thermal detonator” Coke bottles behind. The Dasani water bottles are permitted…as long as they are empty.
Is this overreach by the TSA or do you think the bottles do look like actual grenades?
Thanks to TSA for banning this dangerous good from entering the skies! Their priorities are set straight indeed…
I’m kind of “meh” on the banning of the bottles since I’m not sure TSA really does much anyway. I’m more interested/concerned as to why Disney and Coca-Cola thought it appropriate to shape the bottles after (futuristic) hand grenades at all. Surely there are plenty of things in the Star Wars universe/franchise that are cylindrical enough to warrant replicas suitable for holding liquid that aren’t modeled after indiscriminate killing devices. Hell, why not the grip/base of a light saber? Those are bottle-shaped and way more instantly recognizable.
With that shape, you can be a bounty hunter scum, fearless and inventive…
Wait … so either thermal detonators are a real thing now (how cool!) …
… or they’re still just a plot device in a science fiction (not that “Star Wars” is considered true science fiction by all) movie series and TSA never got that memo. Sigh!
Nonsense. As they are breaking luggage open anyway they can easily see it is not the real thing. Have had my luggage broken in by TSA several times.