I was returning the rental car after my trip to England. The very young man who jumped behind the wheel of the car said, "Madame, you have left something behind in the door!" It was a can of Red Bull, the energy drink, which I had bought in a service station on the M20 in Kent. I've never actually tried Red Bull. I don't like soft drinks, in general.
"I don't want it," I said. "I just bought it in case I felt sleepy on the road, since I was driving in the middle of the night. But I got coffee instead."
"Euh, you really don't want it?" said the kid. "Could I have it?"
"Sure!"
I was surprised when he bounded off to brandish the can in the face of his fellow employee. "Regarde, du Red Bull!"
"What, you didn't know it was illegal in France?" said L.
We regularly have young French visitors in our California beach pad. The first thing they want when they get here is a Red Bull with Grey Goose vodka. It's *the* cool thing to have as far as they're concerned -- together with Reese's peanut butter cups. The confirmation that they're [back] in the States. Go figure...
Posted by: LA Frog | 04 January 2007 at 19:48
I came across this law in Denmark, but I thought it was a weird one-off. I didn't know France had the same law!
Posted by: Gumbo girl | 04 January 2007 at 22:36
Why is it illegal? I personally can't drink it. It reminds me of drinking cherry flavored cough syrup when I was a kid. Although when I was still chefing in restaurants I drank one and that was it for me I was so jacked up and then I crashed and burned, it was the worst feeling---but still--illegal???
Posted by: Dave | 05 January 2007 at 04:14
Hi,
I remember of a scolar trip in UK where I was in charge of taking care of 30 teenagers.
during the road back to home, they have all drinked several red bull can for the fun and it was really hard to keep them calm.
For two of them that have drinked too much, I was about to call the doctor because their heart was pounding faster and they have had a panick attack.
Nothing very dramatic, but frightening.
As I am myself oversensible to caffeine (I can't drink it, it makes me too much nervous), I understand that it's really a disturbing feeling.
I'm not sure that it's worth making it illegal but cafeine is not a soda.
Posted by: Flip | 05 January 2007 at 12:49
oh wow, i've always been a little skeptical of red bull, but i am a little surprised to hear that it's illegal in france. i guess you learn something new everyday!
Posted by: Michelle | 05 January 2007 at 21:12