Ivory Coast: When alcoholic energy drinks become the scapegoats for an underground ploy
The recent ban on the production, importation, and sale of alcoholic energy drinks in Ivory Coast has sparked intense reactions and raised questions about the true validity of such a measure. While the government claims it seeks to protect the youth from the harmful effects of alcohol, this justification seems unconvincing, especially when considering that the market for liquors and other alcoholic beverages continues to flourish without restriction.
Indeed, it is reasonable to question the logic behind this targeted ban. The issue of alcohol abuse and the dangerous combination with substances like tramadol will not disappear with the elimination of alcoholic energy drinks. As long as other types of liquors remain available, the danger will persist. This raises the suspicion that this decision may conceal darker motives, far removed from the public health concerns being cited.
Many view this ban as a targeted attack orchestrated by competing companies, employing underhanded strategies to push an economic player out of the Ivorian market. This scenario evokes the tactics of organized crime, where manipulation, deceit, and economic warfare are waged behind the scenes to dominate a lucrative market.
It is crucial that civil society and informed observers do not turn a blind eye to this situation. By focusing solely on alcoholic energy drinks, the authorities might be yielding to external pressures, favoring certain economic players at the expense of others. The preservation of public health is a noble cause, but it should not be used as a smokescreen for maneuvers with questionable motivations.
It is therefore imperative that the authorities reconsider this controversial decision and adopt a more balanced approach that addresses all aspects of the problem, including the real causes of psychoactive substance abuse. Only by tackling the issue at its root, rather than selectively removing products, can the Ivorian youth truly be protected from the dangers that threaten them. It is time to uncover the truth behind this matter and expose the schemes being plotted at the expense of the country’s legitimate interests.
