So why is this magical drink that “gives you wings” banned in several countries? Apparently it’s all because a few people have died from it and these governments are concerned with the high levels of taurine and caffeine in the beverages. In fact, a new Danish friend that initially brought this to my attention said “it’s dangerous because it has a lot of caffeine,” saying this as she smoked a cigarette and had a vodka and fizzy drink in hand.

And the Danish government is clearly weary of high caffeine doses because they’ve also banned caffeine pills. But what’s the big deal anyways? Coffee contains a lot of caffeine and is far from banned in any of these countries. In fact, last time I checked, the French were known to enjoy a latte or two.

Red Bull also contains glucuronolactone which improves concentration and memory. Additionally, it contains inositol which can lift your mood by pumping extra serotonin to your brain. So a Red Bull is kinda like a coffee mixed with Ritalin and Prozac. No wonder it gives you wings!

Luckily here in the Netherlands there is no ban on Red Bull or equivalent substitutes. In fact, I am currently enjoying a beverage that is simply called “Energy Drink” and carries all the same ingredients as a Red Bull. “Energy Drink” also tastes practically identical to Red Bull but is a fraction of the price as it is produced here in the Netherlands.

You can pick up “Energy Drink” at a Dutch grocery store for as little as 29 euro cents! I was initially blown away by this seeing as how no energy drink in the United States is that cheap. So if you enjoy Red Bull and are traveling around Europe, make sure to stock up before a visit to France, Denmark or Norway. Otherwise you are sure to lose your wings!

photo credit: flickr

Post from: Sirened

The Danes have it all…does life really get any better than boobs, beer and burritos??

photo credit: me

Post from: Sirened

This is something you probably won’t see at your local 7-Eleven in say, Valdosta, Georgia. But have no fear, if you’re in Sweden and you’re craving a Big Bite, you can still get one! Despite all this fruit crap posted on the front window, they still have big bites rolling around all day, just like in the US and A.

Another thing you can nab at Swedish 7-Eleven’s is stale loose candy. Swedes love candy and their 7-Eleven’s have many germ filled bins with candy that was delicious days ago.

In Denmark, you can actually buy liquor at 7-Eleven, which is extremely convenient for drinking on the street which is perfectly legal there. Unfortunately here in the Netherlands we have no 7-Elevens and must settle for eating food out of vending machines. The upside is that we can still drink on the streets, which is illegal in Sweden, haha Magnus ver Magnusson!

photo credit: me

Post from: Sirened

The only downside to the trip was how expensive Scandinavia is. While Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Union, they do not use the euro as their currency. Instead they use kroners, same name for both countries except the Danish kroner is a little stronger than the Swedish kroner.

This is partly why Copenhagen is currently ranked as the 3rd most expensive city in the world. And it’s damn pricey! It’s pretty standard that enjoying a beer out in Copenhagen will run you around $10 (pretty common in Stockholm too). My wife and I sat down for coffee in a cafe in Copenhagen and paid the equivalent of over $6 each for the coffees. And I’m not talking about Starbucks equivalent venti latte’s here, just a small coffee. Ouch!

Luckily we were traveling mostly on euros so this eased the cost of these very expensive countries. In the coming weeks look forward to several posts on Sweden and Denmark such as: Where to eat Swedish meatballs in Stockholm; Where not to eat Reindeer in Stockholm; Why is Red Bull illegal in Denmark?; Ways to cut back on costs; Couch surfing in Copenhagen; and of course, jackass pictures of the week…Sweden and Denmark style!

It’s summer, so why not talk a little less politics and a little more travel!

photo credit: my camera

Post from: Sirened