Dong-A Pharmaceutical announced on the 15th that it will increase the supply price of the tonic "Bacchus D" sold at pharmacies by about 10% and the price of "Bacchus F" distributed to general agencies starting March 1. This is due to rising raw material costs caused by high inflation. As a result, consumer prices are expected to rise by about 100 won.
"Bacchus D" will see a supply price increase of 10.9%. The price increase for Bacchus D comes after 3 years and 5 months since November 1, 2021. Meanwhile, Bacchus F will see its supply price increase by 11.1%, marking 3 years and 4 months after an increase on December 1 of the same year. The company noted, "The price increase is only applicable to Bacchus F distributed through general agencies." Currently, the price of Bacchus D sold at pharmacies ranges from 700 to 800 won, while Bacchus F distributed in convenience stores is around 1,000 won.
Dong-A Pharmaceutical stated, "We have tried to minimize the increase in supply prices, considering the burden on customers, but due to the continuous rise in expenses such as raw materials and manufacturing costs, we had no choice but to make this decision." It added, "We will continue to strive for ongoing product quality improvement and service provision."
First introduced in 1961, Bacchus, which helps alleviate fatigue, has taurine as its main ingredient. Initially, it was in the form of tablets, unlike today. This evolved into a liquid ampoule, and from August 1963, the present bottled drink "Bacchus D" was released. The "D" stands for "drink" in English. In 1993, the ingredients were enhanced, leading to the evolution into Bacchus F, with the "F" being the initial for "forte," meaning strong efficacy. In 2005, the taurine dosage was doubled from the original 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg, and a new product was launched with the letter "D" for double. By 2011, Bacchus transitioned from an over-the-counter drug to a quasi-drug, adding the convenience store and general distribution version "Bacchus F."