Demand for age restriction on sales of energy drinks

Sale of energy drinks to teenagers should be banned

More than two-thirds of young people in Germany consume energy drinks. Such drinks can be dangerous, especially because of their high caffeine content. The SPD health politician Ursula Schulte is now working to ensure that such products are no longer sold to children and young people.

More than one in three young people drink energy drinks

Energy drinks have been enjoying increasing popularity for years. "Nearly 70 percent of all adolescents drink energy drinks, and one in four of them drink more than they think is healthy," writes the consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia on its website. In fact, such drinks can especially harm the health of children and teenagers. Therefore, an age limit for energy drinks is again required.

High consumption of energy drinks can be particularly harmful to the health of children and adolescents. Now an age restriction for the extremely caffeinated and stimulating drinks is required. (Image: beermedia.de/fotolia.com)

Health hazards through stimulating drinks

Health experts have been advising caution on energy drinks for years. What dangers threaten, you can look at, inter alia, on a website that shows what happens after a can of Red Bull in the body.

So it can come to higher consumption, inter alia, to tachycardia or high blood pressure. In particular, adolescents consume too much caffeine via such drinks.

For years, a ban on energy drinks for teenagers has been considered. In this country little has happened so far in this regard.

But now there is a push by a German politician: As reported by the "Saarbrücker Zeitung" on Monday, the SPD health politician Ursula Schulte wants to protect children and young people with a ban on selling more from the dangers of energy drinks.

"An age restriction must also exist in Germany," said the spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag for consumer health protection against the tide.

Sale to teenagers under 16 years stopped

According to some retail chains, the sale of energy drinks to young people under the age of 16 has already stopped in the UK. As it is said, including the German discounters Aldi and Lidl.

"What's going on in the UK must also be possible in this country," Schulte said.

According to the newspaper "Saarbrücker Zeitung", the SPD politician demanded that federal minister of nutrition Julia Klöckner (CDU) "negotiate with the industry".

Finally, too high a consumption of extremely caffeinated and stimulating drinks, especially in children have fatal side effects. (Ad)