England wants to ban high caffeine energy drinks for children under 16 years of age. Should Canada do the same?

England Banning plan Sales of highly caffeinated energy drinks to children under 16 years of age. Some experts say they want to see Canada doing this – or ramps other restrictions on drinks.

Pediatrician at Montreal’s Sant-Jestin University Hospital Center, Dr. Olivier Droin says Canada should also ban sales to people under 16 years of age.

“There is no real advantage for these drinks. They do not bring anything positive to teenagers’ lives and they bring a possible risk,” the Droin said.

“I have no negative aspect for this.”

Researchers say more children drink energy drinks

British MPs have proposed to ban companies from selling energy drinks, of which at least 150 mg of caffeine per liter for anyone under 16.

Many British stores already restrict the sale of beverages to children. The proposed law will apply to businesses that have not yet taken steps, as well as in vending machines where there is regular access to children. Those who fail to comply with will face a certain fine: £ 1,500 (about $ 2,800 CDN) for small businesses, and £ 2,500 (about $ 4,670 CDN) for medium and big businesses.

David Hammond, a researcher who has studied caffeine consumption in young people in Canada. He says that experts will closely follow the impact of England’s move, to see how much the young people have a difference to the health.

“I think it sets an example for other countries,” David Hammond said, who researches the energy beverage marketing and use in Canada.

Hamond, a professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Public Health Sciences, says that young people are consuming highly and possibly dangerous levels of caffeine in Canada.

“We know that a lot of children do not consume them at medium levels. They crush several compartments one night.”

Droin says that research has shown a rapid increase in the number of teenagers consuming energy drinks on a daily basis.

“Ontario has some numbers 20 percent – doubled in the last five years,” Droin said.

Health effects are not fully known

The health effects of energy drinks on a growing body are not fully known, the droines say, because energy drinks are a relatively new event.

Excess caffeine can cause issues such as anxiety, heartbeat and sleeping trouble. The risk is even more for those who have the underlying heart condition. Droines say that drinking too much caffeine before working outside, or by mixing it with alcohol can increase the risks even more.

And it is also not going under the influence of other ingredients in those drinks, such as sugar and other stimulants, which can have more negative effects on health according to the droines.

In rare cases, young people have died by drinking energy drinks.

“I don’t think it could weigh all this in his decision to get an energy drink,” the Droin said.

Health Canada says regulations for energy drinks

Health Canada said in a statement that there are there Already in the restriction place For energy drinks.

For example, labeling requirements are: Caffeinated energy drinks must have careful statement, saying that they are not recommended for people under 14, who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or sensitive people to caffeine.

The Canadian Beverages Association, which represents companies such as Monster Energy Company and Red Bull Canada, also pointed to the labeling requirement, said in a statement that it is committed to ensure “Canadian consumers ensure informed beverages.”

Hammond says that they are not enough to make labels aware of possible hazards.

“Those caution statements require a microscope to read on different compartments,” he said.

And teenagers are getting a difficult time – and reading the warning.

The CBC asked to find a cautious label on an energy drink, 17 -year -old Yahya Hussain studied Can for about a minute, before asking whether it was a trick question.

“You don’t even notice it,” Hussain said, who drinks energy drink regularly before practicing the game.

“I think they should make the path of caution big,” the teenager said.

Health Canada also limits the amount of caffeine in an energy drink in a total of 180 mg serving from all sources.

Another step in the right direction, says the droin, children have to limit marketing appealing – and the drink connects with cartoons or sports.

“We are the deception of our teenagers to protect our teenagers from the very aggressive marketing of the drink … who bring nothing positive in their lives, and can bring a lot of negative results.”

Drouin is hoping that Britain’s move may bring pace for Canada to address the use of energy drinks among children.

“It’s not going anywhere, it is deteriorating, and is being done very low now.”