Bad Breath Cure Antipoleez is Unethical and Unsafe

Antipoleez is a powerful alternative to mints and fresheners that mask bad breath, so much so, that it is touted to mask even the smell of alcohol and tobacco. It has been developed by a Swiss confectioner and is sold as a lozenge-type candy. Its ingredients are believed to facilitate consumption of the odor-producing molecules by the respiratory passage leaving behind a fresh breath. It sells online in packs of 8, 24, 48, 96 servings.

My neighbor, a freshman, is a fan of Antipoleez. At his insistence, I tried these fresheners. It acts quickly and efficiently eliminates odors of onion, garlic, strong Indian spices, etc. It leaves a neutral odor behind, not a fruity or minty smell masking the bad breath. Besides, the freshness does stay until the next snack or meal. I like this product when compared to regular breath-fresheners.

I do not smoke or drink alcohol - so I do not have any personal experience of Antipoleez masking alcohol or tobacco odors. But my neighbor vouches for it - he is a chain smoker and uses it to keep his parents from discovering that.

Antipoleez does not contain anything illegal - in fact, the manufacturer states that the ingredients are all natural and the product complies with FDA regulations. But law officials and critics have raised a strong objection to its provocative name and the way it is being marketed. The product-website www.antipoleez.com blatantly advertises it as a solution to conceal alcohol smell. It says: "You had a few drinks and don't want others to know you did? ... AntiPoleez starts working immediately on completely eliminating the unwanted odor and will solve your problem in less then a minute". Naming it this way appears as if its primarily intended use is to cheat the cops.

It does appear that their marketing gimmicks have worked to their advantage - many school and college students have fallen for Antipoleez. According to my neighbor, he and his friends do not fear being caught by cops - so they can now boldly have a peg or two of alcohol on Friday nights and then drive back home. This is exactly what the cops want to avoid. Although Antipoleez does not affect tests checking for unacceptable alcohol level in the blood, it definitely hinders testing the breath for alcohol (FOX News).

Antipoleez's website has a banner reading "Don't Drink and Drive" as if they have done their bit ensure that people do not misuse their product but as critics have rightly pointed out, it is bound to become a popular aide to drunk driving. Antipoleez has made roads unsafe. The law enforcement agents may come up with creative techniques to beat Antipoleez and curb drunk driving but it is definitely going to keep parents, peers and good counsel from detecting and guiding people away from unsafe use of alcohol and tobacco.

Already, its name has made it controversial and attracted a huge customer base. It is sad that such a product is allowed to sell in our society. At the very least, it should not be marketed under its current name and as a fix to conceal alcohol and tobacco consumption. It should not be marketed as an aide to promoting the unethical habit of hiding things from family and friends.