Of the ten countries that consume the most alcohol in the world, nine are in the European Union. While this culture is still very much alive on our side of the Atlantic, in the United States, some are trying to find healthier substitutes. Selon Futurismmany people are turning to an energy drink called Feel Free.
Small downside: this drink also seems to make its consumers addicted. Manufactured by the company Botanic Tonics, it is presented as a “natural energy, focus and mood booster”the media outlet points out. But in addition to kava, a plant with stimulating properties (banned in France), Feel Free contains an addictive substance called kratom (also banned in France), with effects similar to those of opioids. Launched in 2021, the drink is enjoying huge success.
A drink with a drug effect
According to the media Punchpeople have reportedly become so addicted to Feel Free that they have emptied their bank accounts to fund the addiction. Some have even enrolled in detoxification programs, where they suffer severe withdrawal symptoms. “I couldn’t live without it. One glass turned into three, three into five, five into ten. I drank as much as I could, spending all the money I had.”a 34-year-old man told Punch.
In some states, kratom has been banned, but in others, the drink remains available in stores or online. In 2023, a Washington state jury fined another company that also sold a kratom-infused beverage after it was found liable for the death of a customer.
Recently, a class action lawsuit was filed against Botanic Tonics, claiming that the company allegedly “misled consumers through its advertising strategies for Feel Free, presenting it as a safe, non-alcoholic product”Despite this complaint, Botanic Tonics has no intention of withdrawing its product from the market, Punch laments.
Source: www.slate.fr
