Gel alcohol packs removed from shelves

(JB) Luxembourg's health minister has called a halt on sales of alcohol in gel form in service stations.

Mars di Bartolomeo made the decision to withdraw the drinking gimmick from sale amid fears that it encourages underage drinking.

Before the ban alcohol gels were widely available in service stations around the Grand Duchy.

Displayed alluringly among the sweet rack and with brightly-coloured packaging designed to attract youngsters, consumers could be forgiven for mistaking them for confectionery.

In fact, gel alcohol packs contain on average 10% alcohol (higher if bought over the internet). Advertisements for the products show young people at a party squeezing the gel onto the backs of their hands before licking it.

Mr di Bartolomeo's efforts to ban the product follow a study that showed a large proportion of youngsters aged 12 to 16 had drunk alcohol at least four times in the preceding month. In addition, one in seven said they had been drunk at least once during the preceding year.

The move was welcomed by Luxembourg's anti-drug body the Centre de prévention des toxicomanies, which warned that younger consumers were more susceptible to gimmicks like alcohol gel products.