"It's not for the taste": Vody, the alcoholic energy drink popular with young people, worries the authorities

The government has declared war on Vody, the alcoholic beverage that's currently in vogue, especially among young people. Vody is a blend of vodka and energy drink, sold directly in cans in some grocery stores (a mixture of taurine, coffee, sugar, and vodka).

"We are going to have a prevention campaign, but we need to go further," explained Health Minister Yannick Neuder on Thursday, who is even considering banning it.

He was challenged by a member of parliament because this drink is very popular, especially in the Antilles. Its consumption is also growing in mainland France. For example, in the Paris region, with these young people he met who are crazy about this drink. The discovery of Vody, a few months ago, has almost revolutionized Tonio's evenings. "It's strong... We don't take it for the taste... We enjoy ourselves with the alcohol," he confided to RMC . "It's for the simplicity," one of his friends added.

The simplicity of a pre-made cocktail, directly in a 25-centiliter can... which costs him "between 3 and 5 euros, it's very high compared to the price." Vody has between 18 and 22% alcohol. With his friends, they easily find it in their neighborhood grocery stores, often sold among the sodas. "The packaging is very childish. When you see the can, you think 'that's okay,' but in the end, it can go very quickly..."

There's no question of stopping, though. These brightly colored cans sell particularly well on weekends, like beer, several grocers explain. But the health risks are much greater, insists addiction specialist Géraldine Talbot. "The combination of alcohol and stimulants further accentuates cardiovascular effects such as tachycardia or hypertension. The combination of sugar, stimulants, and alcohol is very reinforcing."

What worries him most is the emergence of "Vody challenges" on social media, where young people try to drink as many cans as possible in the shortest possible time.