A Swiss company is marketing a type of lozenge to the college crowd that they claim eliminates evidence of alcohol and tobacco on one’s breath.

The product, packaged with an eye-catching image of a busty blonde woman in a police uniform, is called “AntiPoleez.” The black lozenges are described as having a minty, licorice-like taste and work almost instantaneously to destroy bad breath odors rather than simply covering them up.

“It’s basically a great equalizer for alcohol and tobacco and it really markets itself,” said Brett Coons, an account executive for SS PR Public Relations Firm, which represents the Swiss company RNY Group.

Despite the powerful odor-destroying effects, the product only uses natural ingredients that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, a concern that many law enforcement officials have is the product may encourage drunk driving or underage drinking, especially when the product is being marketed toward college students. The product’s Web site offers a package-deal called the “Frat Pack,” which includes 96 lozenges.

“If it does indeed cover up the alcoholic odors, it won’t cover up the signs of intoxication,” said Lt. Todd Henert of the University Police. “The police have plenty of tools at their disposal to determine whether or not somebody might be under the influence of alcohol.”

Robert Orzoff, a freshman computer science major, believes the product should be used responsibly.

“I don’t really see the harm unless they’re under the age of 21, or driving,” Orzoff said.

The UP has seen its share of intoxicated students. In the 2007 Clery Security Report for NIU, on campus alone there were 40 arrests and 605 disciplinary referrals related to alcohol violations on campus in the year 2006.

The company that makes “AntiPoleez” is not trying to promote alcohol law violations, however.

“[The company is] not encouraging drinking and driving necessarily, but you go out and drink and have a good time and then you pop one of these mints in your mouth, you go home or back to your dorm room and nobody’s going to be like, ‘Hey, have you been drinking tonight?'” Coons said.

Students have differing opinions on the product.

Peter Miller, a junior electrical engineering technology major, will not be purchasing the product anytime soon.

“I wouldn’t even try it,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t take much light of it because usually stuff like that doesn’t work anyway,”

“AntiPoleez” is only available in stores located in a few major cities, but has been made nationally available on its Web site.

Editor’s Note: Campus Editor John Ranallo contributed to this article.