Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly has welcomed a new Bill brought forward to the Seanad that aims to ban the sale of high energy drinks to under 18’s.
The Energy Drinks Bill, by Independent Senator Sharon Keoghan and Co Signed by Senator O’Reilly, addresses growing public concern around the sale of the popular drinks to young people and the health risks associated with them.
Senator O’Reilly says.
“High energy drinks are a multi-million-euro industry, and they are heavily marketed and promoted to young consumers. Look at any shelf in our supermarkets; they are absolutely laden down with these drinks. There’s almost 40 different brands on sale in this country at the moment which contrasts sharply with the range available in past years. Young people are attracted to them due to their promise of energy giving properties and believe they help in their quest for fitness.
Crucially however the long-term health consequences of imbibing them are not so clear. These stimulant drinks have high levels of caffeine and sugar which are linked to adverse health effects, including insomnia, increased anxiety and digestive issues all of which are deeply disturbing. As adults we all know the effects of consuming too much caffeine for instance so it absolutely stands to reason that young people can be even more impacted.
The Bill aims to prohibit the sale of stimulant drinks to young people under the age of 18 as well as restricting advertising to this cohort, while ordering that clear health warnings on any potential health risks caused by excessive consumption be clearly visible on their packaging at points of sale.
The health and well being of our young people is vital and in presenting this Bill to the Seanad, Ireland is following other European countries like Hungary, Poland and Lithuania all of which have similar Bills restricting the sale of these high energy drinks to minors”.
The general principles of the Bill will be debated on Wednesday (14th May) as it progresses to the second stage.
