Caffeine-laced lip balm set to launch in the UK

Spazzstick was invented by an Alaskan police officer, Richard Holschen, who says he thought of the idea as a means of staying awake during long night shifts.

The product has been available on-line for some time now, but as word gets out about the kick the product offers - on top of protection - interest is starting to gather in other markets, including Europe.

The line is currently available in four different flavours, including vanilla-toffee, cool mint and chocolate cake - with orange and cherry flavours planned as future additions.

For chapped lips and staying awake As well as offering protection from inclement weather conditions and generally chapped and dried-out lips, the product is said to provide users with a hit of caffeine equivalent to having a few sips of coffee with each application.

Indeed, it is claimed that one tube of Spazzstick contains the equivalent of three cups of fairly strong coffee.

Holschen says that, when administered to the lips, the caffeine hit is almost immediate, thanks to the sensitivity of this area associated with the very thin layer of mucous membrane that allows for quicker delivery of active ingredients.

Made by 'trolls' Currently the product is manufactured in the small Eskimo village of Kaktovik, Alaska, where the inventor jokingly claims it is manufactured by 'trolls' in a vast underground volcano lair.

Following on from the product's fast take up in the North American market, Holschen told UK newspaper The Guardian that he is planning a comprehensive marketing campaign for the UK.

However, industry experts have pointed out that the product might have to be re-branded for the UK market because of potentially negative connotations associated with the term 'spaz'.