Thai Police Are Investigating Toffee Maker's Claim Their Product Will Mask Alcohol Use

[webfact]

Toffee Maker Claims Tablets Will Mask Alcohol Use



The police are investigating a toffee maker’s claims that its “Kiss Lip” toffee tablets can reduce alcohol levels in the body. Police suspect the product might interest drunken drivers before they submit to breathalyzer tests. The product is not sold in Thailand yet.

BANGKOK – February 21, 2013 [PDN]; a police spokesman from the Metropolitan Police Bureau said people should not be misled by a toffee maker’s advertisements that its tablets will reduce alcohol levels in the drinker’s body.

The police are investigating the claims, because people might attempt to use the toffee to pass breathalyzer tests for suspected drunken driving, said Pol. Maj. Gen. Worasak Nopsitthiporn, Deputy Commissioner, who oversees traffic matters. He has ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Piya Tawichai, Commander of Traffic work, to coordinate with expert doctors and related organizations to inspect in detail the claims made by the toffee maker.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Worasak said the breathalyzer equipment used by Thai police used to check for the quantity of alcohol in a person’s body at police checkpoints are certified by scientific methods to be standardized and accurate for the measurement of alcohol levels in the blood.

Drunken drivers will try all types of evasive behaviors to avoid being caught by the breathalyzer tests, the commander said. Some drivers will ask to wait a period of time before submitting to the test, while others will chew gum or eat yogurt, or rinse their mouths with mouthwash. But when they blew into the breathalyzer, they still could not pass the test, he said. Such people might be susceptible to advertisements by the toffee maker that keeping 1-2 tablets in the mouth will help to reduce the quantity of alcohol in the body.

The police commander said he did not want to violate the toffee-maker’s right to advertise its product, but the product should have the same standard of reliability and accuracy as the police breathalyzers before they make such claims.

Full story: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2013/02/22/toffee-maker-claims-tablets-will-mask-alcohol-use/

-- Pattaya Daily News 2013-02-22

[krisb]

Silly to claim your product does this.

[Pimay1]

Silly to claim your product does this.

No more silly than this stupid whitening cream, whitening deodorant, whitening viginal cream, whitening nose canal cream, on and on.

[amrishtony]

"The product is not sold in Thailand yet". So it will be imported from where ever it is sold and tested by drunk bibs?? AWESOME...

[MegaRanter]

coffee naturally burns up alcohol, try strong coffee after a knee bender, you recover a lot faster..

[slapout]

To compare the accuracy of the BIB breathalizers to this tablet shows just how out of touch the commander is. A large percentage of the breathalizers were found out of calibration a few weeks back, when checked in Bangkok area. The tablet is not even here for gawds sake and the police are worried about a adverisment. He either wants the tablet franchise for Thailand, or wants new breathanalalizers.

Guess they could get Chalerm to be the standard,. if the tablet works for his test, we better buy stock in the company.

[GentlemanJim]

To compare the accuracy of the BIB breathalizers to this tablet shows just how out of touch the commander is. A large percentage of the breathalizers were found out of calibration a few weeks back, when checked in Bangkok area. The tablet is not even here for gawds sake and the police are worried about a adverisment. He either wants the tablet franchise for Thailand, or wants new breathanalalizers.

Guess they could get Chalerm to be the standard,. if the tablet works for his test, we better buy stock in the company.

I wouldn't wait to see IF it works slapout, the product has just been given the best possible launch ever. $ 1 Mill could not have bought such a splendid advertising campaign, buy stock now !!

[Thai at Heart]

What are they going to do?

Ban it for false advertising? Can i investigate if the police force is a police force by strict definition and ban them?

[laislica]

This could be an urban ledgend but....

Decades ago the Swedish came up with an injection that was supposed to used with a drunk who needed an operation and they wanted to reduce the alcohol in the body rapidly. There was a lot of talk at the time about it being made into a pill and would thus be useful for avoiding failing a breath test.

.

Alcohol is metabolized by several processes or pathways. The most common of these pathways involves two enzymes—alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). These enzymes help break apart the alcohol molecule, making it possible to eliminate it from the body. First, ADH metabolizes alcohol to acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance and known carcinogen. Then, in a second step, acetaldehyde is further metabolized down to another, less active byproduct called acetate (1), which then is broken down into water and carbon dioxide for easy elimination.

However, this process takes time but who knows, could the "pill" reduce the alcohol in the breath in a short time?

[A Member]

To compare the accuracy of the BIB breathalizers to this tablet shows just how out of touch the commander is. A large percentage of the breathalizers were found out of calibration a few weeks back, when checked in Bangkok area. The tablet is not even here for gawds sake and the police are worried about a adverisment. He either wants the tablet franchise for Thailand, or wants new breathanalalizers.

Guess they could get Chalerm to be the standard,. if the tablet works for his test, we better buy stock in the company.

God forbid the BIBs come up against something that reduces their late night extra pocket earning capacity

[GentlemanJim]

This could be an urban ledgend but....

Decades ago the Swedish came up with an injection that was supposed to used with a drunk who needed an operation and they wanted to reduce the alcohol in the body rapidly. There was a lot of talk at the time about it being made into a pill and would thus be useful for avoiding failing a breath test.

.

Alcohol is metabolized by several processes or pathways. The most common of these pathways involves two enzymes—alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). These enzymes help break apart the alcohol molecule, making it possible to eliminate it from the body. First, ADH metabolizes alcohol to acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance and known carcinogen. Then, in a second step, acetaldehyde is further metabolized down to another, less active byproduct called acetate (1), which then is broken down into water and carbon dioxide for easy elimination.

However, this process takes time but who knows, could the "pill" reduce the alcohol in the breath in a short time?

How interesting, seems you are on to something there laislica

http://www.9li.com/c448198-siambuy/

Seems that the company that make kislips make other 'enzyme based products'.

As a one of for emergency medical treatment for drunks it would appear a decent risk management decision, but if this stuff is in sweeties that are being chain eaten, there could be some very nasty consequences. I would have thought that in Thailand, a more effective strategy for avoiding a drink driving charge with no possible adverse medical consequences, is always to have a 1000 baht note behind the sun visor !! (Guaranteed to ensure a green light on any make and model of breathalyzer being used by Thai police)

Edited February 22, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[mca]

A couple of people who, if passing the toffee test, might give other indications that they'd had more than the half a driver's shandy they'd claimed......

Edited February 22, 2013 by mca

[ginjag]

Alcohol is in the blood-lungs, The candy mouth has nothing to do with neutralising the alcohol.

So blowing into a BIB tester will bring the alcohol up from the lungs, the Sweetner is a rip off, a business money maker, if your over the limit TIME is your only hope to get away with the offence,

Why do so many drivers FLEE the scene ???

[laislica]

Alcohol is in the blood-lungs, The candy mouth has nothing to do with neutralising the alcohol.

So blowing into a BIB tester will bring the alcohol up from the lungs, the Sweetner is a rip off, a business money maker, if your over the limit TIME is your only hope to get away with the offence,

Why do so many drivers FLEE the scene ???

Quite right of course.

We really do need a sarcasm font he he

[seajae]

What are they going to do?

Ban it for false advertising? Can i investigate if the police force is a police force by strict definition and ban them?

shouldnt that be police"farce"

[Bluespunk]

If these things did work, and believe me I accept they probably don't, why is it illegal to reduce the alcohol in your body? Isn't that a good thing?

Though thinking on I suppose the danger is that people will hope they work when they don't and drive while wasted.

Edited February 22, 2013 by Bluespunk

[seminomadic]

It would appear this is a government functioning the way governments are supposed to function; protecting consumers against utter and complete horsesh!t claims by a company.

However, garnering attention from the pending ban on the claim itself may be an intentional marketing gambit. They may know themselves how full of sh!t they are and that the very false claim will have to be retracted, but just getting the word out there, baseless as it is, will penetrate the very meager brains of many a Somsak, and such word of mouth means a lot to the bottom line of said company.

[UbonOz]

To compare the accuracy of the BIB breathalizers to this tablet shows just how out of touch the commander is. A large percentage of the breathalizers were found out of calibration a few weeks back, when checked in Bangkok area. The tablet is not even here for gawds sake and the police are worried about a adverisment. He either wants the tablet franchise for Thailand, or wants new breathanalalizers.

Guess they could get Chalerm to be the standard,. if the tablet works for his test, we better buy stock in the company.

Where do Thai police insert breathalysers? " breathanalalizers"

[jamhar]

someone on the police or the media must own part of this company. Otherwise, why would you disclose something like this? Its not even available in TL yet. If they were concerned, the could have just banned it like they are going to do with xanax. Instead, the just gave this company millions in free advertisement and almost a police endorsement.

[Soi Sauce]

Beware of something you cannot even buy here?

Strange to write about or comment on it.

[jbrain]

I don't know about this, but in a former life I knew a gynecologist who liked a beer or 30 during the weekends.

However if he was called up for an emergency in the hospital he would ingest a single tablet of I don't know what, and it would sober him up in no time.

[GentlemanJim]

I don't know about this, but in a former life I knew a gynecologist who liked a beer or 30 during the weekends.

However if he was called up for an emergency in the hospital he would ingest a single tablet of I don't know what, and it would sober him up in no time.

Review, former life, contact said gynee, call up ask about said pill and tell us

[xen]

It does not compute with me that one can spend good money on getting to a drunk and presumably enjoyable state of being and then putting oneself into a position such as driving and being pulled over by the BIB and wanting to instantly undo the the previous

process and cost of getting into that enjoyable state of consciousness.

If you are going to do something, do it properly and pass out in the bar or on the lounge and eliminate the need of the tablets.

[GentlemanJim]

It does not compute with me that one can spend good money on getting to a drunk and presumably enjoyable state of being and then putting oneself into a position such as driving and being pulled over by the BIB and wanting to instantly undo the the previous

process and cost of getting into that enjoyable state of consciousness.

If you are going to do something, do it properly and pass out in the bar or on the lounge and eliminate the need of the tablets.

I concur, either that or take your last two pints with you to the toilet and throw them straight into the urinal, therebye avoiding the 30 min journey through the body to arrive at the same place.

[lizardtongue]

To compare the accuracy of the BIB breathalizers to this tablet shows just how out of touch the commander is. A large percentage of the breathalizers were found out of calibration a few weeks back, when checked in Bangkok area. The tablet is not even here for gawds sake and the police are worried about a adverisment. He either wants the tablet franchise for Thailand, or wants new breathanalalizers.

Guess they could get Chalerm to be the standard,. if the tablet works for his test, we better buy stock in the company.

God forbid the BIBs come up against something that reduces their late night extra pocket earning capacity

Took the words right out of my mouth, they will not let that happen! Of course they could produce 'fake' toffee and sell that? That way they get two bites at the cherry!!

[Payboy]

Kopiko toffee has been around for years though it doesn't directly claim the same effects.

[steve down under]

A couple of people who, if passing the toffee test, might give other indications that they'd had more than the half a driver's shandy they'd claimed......

That first one with the old fella what a pi**er even the cop got a good laugh ,and the bloke in the second one must have one hell of a hard head to nearly knock a hole in the wall when he did his faceplant .

[blackthorn2005]

Sweet!

[chrisrazz]

Assuming the product does in fact work, though I am sceptical, surely reducing the alcohol level in the system is a good thing for drivers, as they will not legally be drunk and therefore not a danger to society. Assuming the breath analysis equipment is not faulty, you are either drunk or you aren't, regardless of the amount of alcohol or any remedy used to reduce alcohol levels. If the cop were to be talking about the potential health dangers inherent in attempting to influence the metabolic process and the potential for missuse he might be onto something.

[cup-O-coffee]

"Cup-O-Coffee Claims THB Will Mask Alcohol Use at Road Stops"