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Ask a Brazilian: Lozenge or Candy?
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October 18, 2007
This is our regular column called "Ask a Brazilian", the idea being that you can quite literally ask a question of a Brazilian for those issues you aren‘t sure about but perhaps dare not ask someone else. It is meant as a bit of fun and answers should not be construed as expert opinion or the definitive reply on the matter. For that reason we ask you to please send comments and experiences in order to add to our replies.
I have a question about "Halls" candy. Here in Canada, Halls are used when you have a cough or a cold. The advertising promotes the "menthol vapour" effect that soothes coughs & sore throats.
But in Brazil, my friends eat Halls just as candy and never heard of having them for coughs and colds.
I wonder if Halls are different in Brazil, or is the marketing of the product just different? They look and taste the same to me in both places.
What is the advertising of Halls like in Brazil ?
David
David, hello!
First of all thank you so much for sharing this information with us (Brazilians). Halls is good for coughs and colds... That should be on the news!
I called Adams customer service and this is what they said:
- Adams good afternoon.
- Hi, is there any difference between Halls in Canada and Brazil?
- No. Halls is the same product everywhere. It‘s a candy.
- Yes, and what about the cough relief effects?
- Cough relief??
- There is the website http://gethalls.com that says "Halls mentholated cough drops start to work within 10 seconds to suppress coughs and soothe sore throats".
- What is the website again, please?
- gethalls.com. "g" de gato, "e" de elefante, "t" de tartaruga, halls.com
- (reading) ... I... it‘s... hum... could you give me your phone number, please?
- (my phone number).
- Ms, I‘m afraid I will have to call you back. I am sorry I couldn‘t help you.
- It‘s ok. I will wait for your call. Thank you.
- "Thank you for calling Adams, your call is very important for us".
Adams didn‘t call me back, so I called again:
- Adams good afternoon.
- Hi, is there any difference between Halls in Canada and Brazil?
- No. It‘s the same product everywhere.
- And what about the cough relief effects?
- Oh, it‘s just a rumour.
- A rumour?!
- Yes. They say eucalyptus is good for coughs.
- I am sorry but you have it on the website: "suppress coughs and soothe sore throats".
- Oh, but it‘s just a concept. It‘s just a candy.
So that‘s it, a "refreshing candy", for Brazil.
I have searched for local ads, they don‘t mention Hall‘s cold relief effects. I guess it‘s because of the supposed good weather; that is "Brazilians don‘t get colds" they must think. I think it‘s a huge mistake. But that is just a guess and an opinion.
The slogan here is "Go for it. It‘s Halls". 100% marketed at young people. Its main website speaks for itself (http://www.halls.com.br) with only the "baladeiros" (people who visit night clubs).
Beijos,
Vanessa T. Bauer
Are there any burning questions you have about Brazil, or other issues that you're curious about, such as Brazilian culture? If so, send your questions to gringoes@gringoes.com with "Ask a Brazilian" in the subject. We will forward to our Brazilian experts, and publish the best questions (and replies) on the site.
Previous questions in this article series:
Ask a Brazilian: Liberal or Jealous?
Ask a Brazilian: Truck Wheels
Ask a Brazilian: Tolerance
Ask a Brazilian: Screens
Ask a Brazilian: Brazilian Wax
Ask a Brazilian: Flashing Lights
Ask a Brazilian: Lemon and Limes
Ask a Brazilian: Shocking Showers
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10/18/2007
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