At first glance, it doesn't seem offensive. But beneath its vibrantly colored packaging and its energy-boosting soda look , lies an explosive and harmful cocktail. Meet Vody , the new drink popular with young people, which contains 18 to 22% alcohol, vodka, as well as caffeine, taurine, and sugar. These cans, sold for between 3 and 5 euros, are prohibited for those under 18, but teenagers love them.

An investigation opened by the DGCCRF

"I don't have the right to sell to minors ," a cashier at a Parisian supermarket told TF1's 8 p.m. news. However, most of the high school students TF1 met said they had never been stopped at the checkout of a store. "Anyone can buy them, really. As soon as you go to a small grocery store, it's fine ," one teenager confided, while another emphasized that they "don't ask for the card . "

Since Vody hit our shelves, the French Anti-Fraud Department has been questioning the sale of these drinks in self-service stores alongside sodas and other energy drinks. However, in Europe, the law is clear: above 15% alcohol, a drink must be classified as a spirit. An investigation was therefore opened on May 1st, in collaboration with Germany, the country where Vody is manufactured. "If the product were to be marketed as a 'spirited drink,' it would have to comply with strict regulations aimed at protecting consumers ," declared the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).

In Le Point (new window) , the DGCCRF confirmed that it wanted to "verify that the product's sales name is correct ." Speaking to the France Assos Santé association (new window) , it emphasized that it was seeking to "identify the distribution network and those responsible for placing this drink on the French market," which was particularly successful in the West Indies before arriving in France.

Fruity fragrances to attract younger audiences

For doctors, alcohol isn't the only danger of Vody. The mixture can cause serious health problems. "It will speed up the metabolism, the heart rate. It will put us in a state of alert. For the heart, it's an overload because it will cause tachycardia. And we can imagine that if the person is dehydrated or if they have a fragile heart, there is a risk of palpitations, rhythm disturbances, or even a heart attack if they are overstimulated ," explains Dr. Victoria Tchaikovsky, a sports doctor in Paris.

In a square, the TF1 8pm news team meets about twenty middle school students. Even though Vody is prohibited for minors, almost all of them say they consume it regularly and have experienced the effects caused by this drink. "I drank it on Tuesday, before class. I felt unwell. I was kicked out of school for two days ," admits one of these young people. They then show a video of a young girl who, that evening, had just been taken into care by emergency services after drinking Vody. "We called the fire department ," the teenagers recall.

Videos showing young people consuming several cans in a row are making the rounds on social media. This dangerous cocktail is hidden behind a playful presentation that echoes the codes of energy drinks: festive illustrations and fruity flavors to attract young people. Furthermore, this drink is quickly addictive, according to experts. Each can contains more than 20 grams of sugar, an ingredient that masks the sensations associated with alcohol.

"You drink it almost like mother's milk. You don't feel like you're drinking something extremely strong. And the caffeine in the drink will mask the effects of the alcohol. That's what's pernicious, is that you drink alcohol without realizing it. It's as if you were pouring four or five glasses of vodka ," explains Laurent Muraro, general coordinator of the Entraid'Addict federation, according to whom "you can be in an alcoholic coma with just two drinks like that . "

When contacted, the manufacturer of this drink did not respond to our requests. "We are not available for an interview ," we can read in their email. In some countries, particularly Germany, this drink is prohibited for sale.