No ban on selling energy drinks to minors in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Shura Council yesterday rejected a draft parliamentary law aimed at banning the sale of energy drink products to people below 18 and preventing distribution for free to consumers or selling them in restaurants and canteens.

It also rejected the move to prohibit the promotion or advertisement of energy drink products.

The Health Ministry said that preparing a draft law to separately regulate the issue of reducing the consumption of energy drink products is not consistent with the good legislative policy.

Energy drinks are widely promoted as products that increase energy and enhance mental alertness and physical performance. Next to multivitamins, energy drinks are the most popular dietary supplement consumed by teens and young adults.

In fact, the global energy drink market continues to grow. It was worth $39 billion in 2013 and is forecast to reach $61 billion by 2021. Energy drinks may promise a boost, but experts are increasingly concerned that their cocktails of ingredients could have unintended health risks.

A study published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that caffeinated energy drinks alter the heart’s electrical activity and raised blood pressure.

Some of the popular energy drinks on the market today contain extremely high levels of B3 (niacin) and B6, which in excess, are known to also cause gastrointestinal problems, skin conditions, liver toxicity, nerve damage, and even blurred vision.