• An Alsatian company, Phicogis Europe, one of the two largest suppliers of condoms in France, specializing in prevention equipment against STIs (sexually transmitted infections), has designed a model of glass protector to fight against GHB, date rape drug.

  • Real success, Phicogis Europe sells thousands in Europe and even in the USA or Canada.

    Called French Drink Guard, the glass protector comes in the form of a round sticker, which fits all glasses.

    A 100% recyclable, single-use protection, which sticks around the glass by folding it down, with a food-grade glue.

  • Following several reports of GHB, the Bas-Rhin prefecture, in partnership with the Union of Industry and Hotel Trades (Umih) launched a prevention and awareness-raising operation with the distribution of 14,500 French Drinks Guard in the Bas-Rhin establishments.

To see its aging premises, a little empty and without any embellishment except for a gigantic colored graph on the wall of the director's office, the company Phicogis Europe does not really impress.

Located in Eschau, a small town south of Strasbourg, the Alsatian company nevertheless counts in the world of prevention against STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

The investment of its manager, Vincent Wernette, lies well beyond appearances, but in the research and development of prevention products.

For the time being, it is one of the two largest suppliers of condoms in France, with a marketing oscillating between 10 to 14 million male and female condoms per year.

Or "nearly three quarters of the condom market in France", emphasizes Vincent Wernette.

But also lubricating gel, condom vending machines, earplugs, alcohol tests, surgical masks... Everything goes through the small town where it is packaged before supplying large groups like Manix or Durex.

This does not prevent him from also marketing his own brand of condoms.

50,000 lens protectors produced per day

But recently, it is a new phenomenon that preoccupies him and the outlets are enormous.

The fight against GHB, the date rape drug, put in the glass of consumers without their knowledge.

A civil engineer by training, Vincent Wernette therefore imagined a glass protector whose patent is registered worldwide.

A model that he invented and developed well before last February, when the government was just launching an awareness and prevention campaign among young people and night establishment owners to fight against GHB attacks.

In order to promote short circuits, which is impossible for condoms generally made in Asia, this glass protector is designed in Alsace, in the Moder Valley.

In a factory capable of manufacturing 500,000 a week.

To deal with any shortage of components (paper and polypropylene), the engineer took the lead by signing an agreement with a European country.

“We will be able to supply as many as necessary”, assures the director who has nearly 50,000 produced per day.

Mainly for export to Europe and especially to “Spain with Ibiza”, smiles Vincent Wernette.

Its glass protector, baptized “French Drink Guard”, has just crossed the Atlantic to invest in the vast Canadian and American market where it has an exclusive distributor.

"We spend almost every other day on TV", welcomes Vincent Wernette.

Negotiations are also underway in Chile, which could absorb 1.5 million copies of the protective washer.

The nightlife interested, nurseries too

His company even plans to double its initial annual production target of one million copies.

Phicogis Europe could well exceed its expectations because negotiations are underway for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

And even further because this protection has another advantage: if a glass spills, the liquid does not flow.

Nurseries, nursing homes and even a large national airline are interested.

Very easy to set up (we tested), French Drink Guard comes in the form of a round sticker, like a coaster, and adapts to all glasses, even champagne flutes, thanks to a pre-cut.

A 100% recyclable protection, for single use which avoids having to pre-wash it like other existing models, or leaving it lying around in the bottom of your pocket.

It sticks around the glass by folding it all around, with an agri-food glue that leaves no trace on the glass.

Quick to install, just slip a straw into the pre-cut cross and you're done.

Shaped like a paper CD, weighing just over a gram, a small box can hold 200 copies.

A product of course compatible with agri-food standards.

And icing on the cake,

It is this device to fight against GHB which was also chosen by the prefecture of Bas-Rhin, in partnership with the Union of trades in industry and hospitality (Umih) for a prevention operation , raising awareness of GHB with the distribution of 14,500 French Drink Guards in bars and night establishments.

Because even if the prefecture could not provide “no consolidated figures” on the number of victims of date rape drugs in the department, testimonies and reports have multiplied in recent weeks.

Only certainty, in this summer period, season of festivities, the authorities and managers of bars and night establishments remind that even with protection, it is important to remain vigilant and watch your drink... so that the party remains beautiful. .

Singer Louane suspects of having been drugged with GHB in a bar

Company

Rape drug: they create a fake sales site to raise awareness and record more than 10,000 orders

  • GHB

  • Dope

  • sexual assault

  • Bar

  • Nightclub

  • Protection

  • Strasbourg

  • Great East