Viral Drunken Raccoon Inspires Spirited Response from Virginia ABC
In a hilarious twist of events that captured the internet’s collective heart, a Virginia ABC liquor store has embraced its unexpected viral fame by creating a line of specialty cocktails inspired by a raccoon who broke in, indulged in various spirits, and passed out in the store bathroom. The incident, which occurred on November 29 in Ashland, Hanover County, transformed an ordinary night of inventory into a social media sensation when the “very intoxicated” critter was discovered face-down in the restroom after sampling the merchandise. The masked bandit—affectionately dubbed the “trashed panda” by the Hanover Animal Protection and Shelter—didn’t just leave with a hangover; it left with internet stardom that even resulted in a memorable impersonation on “Saturday Night Live.”
Seizing the marketing opportunity, Virginia ABC quickly developed three themed cocktails celebrating their furry burglar: the Rye Rascal Sour, Trash Panda Old Fashioned, and Midnight Gin Fizz. Each drink features the standard two ounces of spirits found in their classic counterparts, but with special raccoon-inspired twists like maple syrup in the Rye Rascal Sour and brown sugar syrup in the Trash Panda Old Fashioned. The promotional materials feature playful edited photos of a raccoon clutching each signature drink, perfectly capturing the humorous spirit of the incident. The state-run alcohol retailer even released the full surveillance footage showing the raccoon’s journey from curious explorer to stumbling inebriate, leaving a trail of shattered bottles in its wake before eventually finding refuge in the bathroom—a sequence that local news station WRIC obtained and shared with an amused public.
After sleeping off its wild night, the raccoon emerged with “zero signs of injury (other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices),” according to a cheeky Facebook post from Hanover County officials. The unharmed critter was safely released back into the Virginia wilderness, hopefully having learned valuable lessons about breaking and entering—though the experience seems to have worked out surprisingly well for its unexpected fame. The Virginia ABC didn’t stop with just cocktail recipes in their embrace of the viral moment; on December 5, coinciding with the 92nd anniversary of Prohibition’s end, their Spirited Virginia brand shared artwork depicting a raccoon seated at a bar beside a large bottle of bourbon with the caption: “Cheers to repeal day… and to the raccoon who always knows where to find good spirits (just not this bottle).”
The marketing opportunities extended beyond the state liquor authority, with Hanover County officials launching a “Trashed Panda” T-shirt campaign featuring a sketch of the dazed raccoon alongside a spilled bottle of wine. The merchandise capitalizes on the public’s delight with the mischievous mammal’s misadventures, turning an incident of property damage into a community-binding joke. The raccoon’s fame reached its peak when it was immortalized in popular culture through a “Weekend Update” segment on Saturday Night Live. Comedian Sarah Sherman, decked out in a full raccoon costume, embodied the clumsy, booze-loving critter, knocking over a bottle and delivering self-deprecating jokes about raccoons’ reputation: “We hear what you call us. Trash pandas. Dumpster dogs. The Sarah Shermans of the forest.”
The entire episode demonstrates the power of embracing the unexpected and finding humor in situations that might otherwise be considered problematic. Rather than dwelling on the property damage or the inconvenience, Virginia ABC recognized the inherent comedy in a drunken raccoon’s liquor store adventure and transformed it into positive publicity. Their quick response with themed cocktails and playful marketing shows a refreshing ability to laugh at themselves and connect with customers through shared amusement. The incident also highlights our cultural fascination with animals behaving in human-like ways—particularly when they seem to adopt our vices—and our tendency to anthropomorphize creatures that stumble into human environments.
Interestingly, the raccoon isn’t the only animal causing chaos in Virginia businesses recently. In Richmond, a kitten flooded a cat café after an apparent confrontation with a sink and a towel, resulting in extensive damage that forced the establishment to close for the remainder of the year. While the raccoon has returned to the wild with its newfound celebrity status, the troublemaking kitten remains up for adoption—perhaps now with an enhanced resume noting its skills in plumbing demolition. These parallel incidents suggest Virginia may be experiencing a small animal uprising, or more likely, remind us of the unpredictable joys and challenges that come with sharing our world with wildlife and pets. Either way, the story of the “trashed panda” serves as a reminder that sometimes the most memorable marketing opportunities arrive unexpectedly—and occasionally, with four paws and a fluffy tail.
