Ivory Coast : Review of the Energy Drinks Controversy, What Do Ivorian Authorities Plan?
In a few days, exactly four, the Ivorian authorities’ decision on the suspension of alcoholic energy drinks will expire. What do the authorities plan, especially considering that this decision did not come about to preserve public health, as they try to make it seem ?
It has been three months since the suspension of energy drinks has been a hot topic. The Ivorian authorities have created unfair competition in favor of certain (French) breweries. In this case, corrupt officials have extorted honest merchants and distributors.
In this scheme, the authorities have identified energy drinks as the cause of various problems among the youth, while the real issue is elsewhere and has a name : Tramadol. Indeed, the energy drink itself is not harmful to health. It is the excessive consumption and mixing that young people engage in that pose public health problems.
Today, investigations have shown that with the suspension, young people continue to mix Tramadol with other alcoholic beverages. This brings us back to the question posed at the beginning of the article. In reality, Energy Drinks pose no danger, but rather Tramadol and other substances. Will the Ivorian authorities maintain the suspension or lift it? And now, what measures will be taken to stop the importation, distribution, and sale of substances like Tramadol in the country ?
