For the last in Cannes, the Bal des Fous is testing a bracelet to detect GHB in drinks

Streams of glittery sultans, sparkling princesses, and muscular emirs converged this Saturday at the last of the summer's Bal des Fous, under the sign of Arabian Nights. While the atmosphere is still light and festive, this final edition was marked by a new health safety feature: 500 funny "I drink safe" bracelets were distributed to partygoers, for the first time, on bar counters. Each bracelet featured four test zones, to check that no one had unwittingly added GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known as the date rape drug) to their drink, whether alcoholic or soft.

How does it work? Simply place a few drops of your drink on one of the four test areas. Within ten seconds, if the color remains clear, there's no GHB. If it turns blue, the glass contains traces of GHB. An alternative to the 5,000 "glass condoms" also distributed, but not always easy to use and considered restrictive.

"Everyone is concerned"

"It's reassuring as a woman," reacts Eva, 22, as she puts on her new bracelet. "You never know who you might run into. I have a friend who had this happen to her, luckily she wasn't assaulted." Her friend Loïc, 23, is delighted with the concept. "It's a good initiative. We're all concerned. If it can become more widespread... But it's still a shame it's come to this."

Émeline, 24, and her friend Océane, 20, who were experiencing their first Bal des Fous this Saturday, admit: "When we party, we don't necessarily think about this risk. But it's a very good idea." Bracelet adopted! Thanks to the awareness and educational work of the bartenders, new reflexes are needed to celebrate in peace.

"Shocked by the Josso affair"

This innovative bracelet was developed by Maria Hyra, 39, who lives between Cannes and Paris, and her partner, Benoit de Montessus, 42. They are co-founders of the company Docteur B, created in Clichy in 2022. "I was very shocked by the Pelicot affair but, above all, by the story of MP Sandrine Josso, who is fighting against the phenomenon of chemical submission. It's a screening bracelet but, above all, a deterrent," explains Maria Hyra.

A device that avoids a pitfall for victims: the disappearance of GHB in urine in less than ten hours and in the blood in six to eight hours.

"A revolution"

Tested at the recent Plages Electro, these bracelets, offered this Saturday by Docteur B, are valuable allies for event organizers. "It's a revolution! It's the end of glass trappers," emphasizes Géraldine, from the Bal des Fous. "I think the idea is brilliant," smiles her accomplice, Mozart, who indicates that there have been "no proven cases this summer linked to drugs."

Released in June, these bracelets are available in 4,000 pharmacies in France, costing between €6 and €8 for a pack of two. While the test strip is made in China, the product is assembled in Clichy.

But Doctor B wants to go further. "We're developing a new bracelet that can test for five drugs (GHB, cocaine, ketamine, scopolamine, and flunitrazepam, i.e., benzodiazepines)." The next step? Incorporating the famous anti-drug testers into event access bracelets. This is about to happen at the "Les Nuits de Champagne" festival, which will take place in Troyes in October...