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Monday, May 12, 2025

Kids and vanilla abuse

Kids

Why are minors legally allowed to buy vanilla extract, peppermint extract, lemon extract, cooking wine, kombucha, and hand sanitizer when they contain alcohol and can be used to get drunk?

The legality of minors purchasing items like vanilla extract, peppermint extract, lemon extract, cooking wine, kombucha, and hand sanitizer, which may contain alcohol, is often governed by specific regulations and the intended use of these products.

  1. Vanilla Extract, Peppermint Extract, Lemon Extract:

    • These extracts are commonly used in cooking and baking. While they do contain alcohol, the alcohol content is typically low, and they are intended to be used in trace amounts in recipes. The assumption is that the small quantities used in cooking are not likely to be misused for the purpose of getting drunk. Regulations may vary by jurisdiction, but the focus is generally on the intended use of these products in culinary applications.
  2. Cooking Wine:

    • Cooking wine is another product that contains alcohol but is intended for cooking purposes. The alcohol content in cooking wine is often lower than that in regular wine, and it is typically added to enhance the flavour of dishes. However, it is not meant to be consumed as a beverage. Legal restrictions on the purchase of cooking wine by minors may exist in some places, and some cooking wines may have added salt or other substances to discourage consumption.
  3. Kombucha:

    • Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that can contain trace amounts of alcohol due to the fermentation process. While the alcohol content is generally low, it can vary between commercial brands and homemade versions. Regulations on the sale to minors can depend on the specific alcohol content of the product. In some cases, products with higher alcohol content may be subject to age restrictions.
  4. Hand Sanitizer:

    • Hand sanitizers often contain alcohol, such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, as an active ingredient. However, the primary purpose of hand sanitizers is for hygiene and not for consumption. While the alcohol content can be significant, especially in some formulations, they are not intended to be ingested. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when hand sanitizers were in high demand, there were instances of individuals misusing them to try and get drunk. However, such incidents are not the intended use of these products.

It's important to note that regulations can vary by jurisdiction, and local laws may place restrictions on the sale of certain products to minors. Additionally, the responsibility often falls on retailers to enforce these regulations and to ensure that products are not being sold to individuals underage.

In some cases, products like hand sanitizer may have been reformulated or labeled with warnings to discourage misuse. Authorities and health organizations may also provide guidelines to ensure the safe use of these products.

While these items may contain alcohol, the focus of legal restrictions is generally on preventing their misuse rather than on restricting access for legitimate uses. Education on responsible use and enforcement of existing regulations are essential components of addressing potential issues related to the consumption of these products by minors.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model

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