CONCERNS OVER MINTS SHAPED LIKE ECSTASY DRUG

HEALTH ministers have raised concerns over a new range of tablet-shaped
mints that look similar to the illegal drug ecstasy. Advertisement

The sugar-free "24-7" mints are marketed by Cadbury in push-button packs
containing white pill-shaped mints. An official website for the mints
features "24-7" adventures in a nightclub with a cartoon DJ shaking a
container of the mints as he mixes dance music.

Echoing the debate about the cigarette-shaped lollies that were called
"FAGS", health experts fear the new mints send the wrong message on
substance abuse.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Trish Worth said last night the mints
and their marketing would be reviewed by the Department of Health and Aged
Care.

"Our concern is that this product is being manufactured and marketed to
appeal to young people because it so closely resembles ecstasy," she said.

"There's a double concern here that it's being marketed to impressionable
young people and that someone could replace the mints with ecstasy because
they look so similar. In the same way that drinks can be spiked, this is
something that would be difficult to detect."

State Health Minister Lea Stevens said she was concerned about the product,
which had been discussed at the Australian/New Zealand Food Standards
Council meeting in Sydney on Friday.

" While it isn't technically illegal, it is worrying that a product made to
look like an illegal drug is being marketed to our teenagers and other
people," Ms Stevens said.

She said the council, which consisted of government ministers responsible
for food products, had asked for a working group to be set up to look at
ways of regulating such products.

Victorian Health Minister John Thwaites raised the issue following concerns
the mints "mix drug messages".

"It potentially promotes a drug-taking culture," Mr Thwaites' spokeswoman said.

The mints will be referred to the Australian New Zealand Food Authority and
Health Department officers to decide whether the company should be asked to
change its promotions.

A spokesman for Cadbury was unavailable for comment last night.