Halls Cough Drops Are More Than Just Medicine In Some Parts Of The World

When most people think of candy, treats like chocolate, fruit gummies, and hard candies usually come to mind first. However, if you hail from certain countries in South America or even the Philippines, it's likely you might add Halls cough drops to that list of sweets. That's because while people in northern regions reach for Halls to soothe a sore throat or cough, people in warmer parts of the world view it as a cooling candy. 

In many South American countries, you can find Halls in the candy aisle, as if they were just another sweet. Viewing the lozenges as candy isn't a practice consumers invented by themselves. Halls are marketed as candy in some of these countries, with super-sweet flavors available that are difficult to find anywhere else. Depending on where you go, you can pick up creamy passionfruit, strawberry and chocolate, or even beer- and lime-flavored Halls, usually imported from Mexico. You may even see advertisements showing everyone from hip teens to Santa Claus snacking on the cough drops.

Generally, it seems that the people who snack on Halls do so as a way to keep their breath fresh and to avoid the dry mouth that may come from living in a hotter, arid climate. This habit isn't contained to a single demographic either; children, teens, and adults all enjoy partaking in cough drops throughout the day.

Considering that Halls cough drops contain menthol and are therefore a subtle type of medication, it might be concerning that people are ingesting them so casually, especially if they're eating large quantities. Fortunately, according to Healthline, the average person would have to eat hundreds of cough drops extremely quickly before experiencing serious adverse effects. Devouring too many cough drops does create a risk of gastrointestinal issues, and people with diabetes or who are worried about weight gain should be aware of the drops' high sugar content, but overall Halls aren't any more dangerous than the average candy.

At the end of the day, Halls offers some tasty flavors, and it's easy to assume that the menthol's cooling effect is nice on a hot day. While there are plenty of other candy options to choose from, it's not difficult to see why many people in the world's hottest climates reach for Halls' cough drops as their treat of choice.