HE’LL NEED MORE THAN A PUBLIC DEFENDER –
April 12, 2023 – Romulo Torres, a recovering alcoholic, began receiving targeted ads for Botanic Tonics’ Feel Free Wellness Tonic in 2020. It was advertised as a beverage featuring kava and “other ancient plants” to aid productivity, focus and relaxation.
However, the drink upended Torres’ life and sobriety after he purchased Feel Free at a 7-Eleven in December 2021. Within three months, Torres developed a “strong addiction” to the product, drinking 10 Feel Free Tonics a day and spending $3,000 a month on the drink, the lawsuit states. After attempting to quit the beverage, Torres experienced severe withdrawal symptoms and began drinking alcohol again in 2022 to ease the worsening effects of Feel Free’s withdrawal.
