Vody... This name may not mean much to you, but you're likely to hear about it soon. And for good reason: this energy drink differs from Red Bull because it contains alcohol. The brand is controversial, and it is already possible to buy this drink, a mixture of vodka, taurine, and caffeine, online and in France.
An alcoholic Red Bull that alerts health professionals
This new product called Vody can be found in the form of a small can of soda. The energy drink is controversial because, unlike Red Bull, it is made up of 25 centilitres of vodka, sugar, caffeine and taurine. Produced in Germany by the company Cody's Drinks, Vody has an alcohol content of 18 to 22%! With its flashy can, this new product, which is sold in online stores and in Africa, the Caribbean and even in some grocery stores in the north of Paris, is likely to appeal to younger consumers. And inevitably, this worries health professionals.
Numerous risks for younger people
For the latter, there is already the very high calorie and sugar intake that this type of drink represents. But the significant alcohol content goes far beyond that of a glass of wine or even a shot of vodka mixed with soda.
Furthermore, the presence of caffeine in its composition is also alarming because it can cause attacks of tachycardia and give the impression of not being tired and creating the feeling of not being drunk and consequently, consuming even more. Finally, the high dose of sugar increases the risk of addiction.
While Vody is controversial because of its composition, this drink is also problematic because it is sold as a soda and therefore appeals to young people who do not necessarily know what they are consuming. The question is whether the company that manufactures and distributes it is intentionally targeting teenagers.
DGCCRF opens an investigation into Vody
The DGCCRF, the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, has opened an investigation to determine whether Vody is presented and sold as an alcoholic and not an energy drink. Note that after being a hit with young people in Ivory Coast, the Ivorian authorities banned the sale of Vody.
On TikTok, Vody is gaining "popularity" among young people with the emergence of a new challenge: the Vody Challenge. The idea is to consume as many cans as possible in record time.
It is to be hoped that the French authorities will ban the sale of this product, as was the case with Sniffy, the inhaled energy powder that was presented as cocaine and which provoked strong reactions. The government had banned its marketing in 2024 due to health risks and the trivialization of hard drugs.
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