These products do not contain alcohol but yet you can see on their packaging cocktail glasses with ice cubes, straw and mint leaf. A real trend among young people, they imitate the taste or fragrance of popular drinks such as mojito, spritz, gin-fizz or margarita. And they have invaded the shelves of supermarkets, to the dismay of health professionals, as reported the Parisian.
“In terms of public health, it is crazy stupid. Childhood memories play a role as adults. This will lead them later to underestimate the risk of alcohol, it is the same farce that with Champomy “, indignant William Lowenstein, president of SOS Addictions in the columns of Parisien.
While excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for 50,000 deaths in France each year, it calls into question the economic weight of alcohol. “On tobacco, we have really made progress, but not on this other health disaster. In France, we are one of the leading wine producers in the world, obviously that counts.”
Products that target adults
Sociologist Christophe Moreau, also interviewed by the daily, highlights a paradox. “On the one hand, we have banned alcohol for minors as well as advertising, there is a desire to protect the consumer, and, on the other, we are promoting the party, we are setting up marketing as these products show, ”he says.
The marketing director of the Lutti brand, which markets sweets with mojito, pina colada and spritz flavors, meanwhile explained on a daily basis that their products were aimed at 25-49 year olds and were inspired by mocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails.
On the side of the Directorate General of Health (DGS), contacted by the Parisian, these products referring to alcoholic beverages therefore advertise them indirectly and should bear the words “alcohol abuse is dangerous for the population. health”.
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