Whut: will energy drinks be 18+?

Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: whut: will energy drinks be 18+?

Buying energy drinks in the supermarket? Only if you are eighteen or older, is what food watchdog Foodwatch (you know, those misleading products in the supermarket) advocates for. Currently, two supermarket chains have an age limit of fourteen years, and at all other chains, anyone who wants can buy such a can (or half a liter!) – yes, even your seven-year-old niece with her saved pocket money. And that is of course quite strange...

Because energy drinks should not be confused with regular soft drinks; not good for children and adults either, but at least they are not also packed with caffeine and taurine (in addition to the huge amounts of sugar). Pediatricians have already raised the alarm because they see that energy drinks are sending children to the emergency room with heart rhythm disorders. And now supermarkets seem to finally be changing their stance.

Only together
But only on the condition that all supermarkets participate. Only Aldi and Lidl currently have an age limit of 14 years, and after lengthy discussions with Foodwatch and involved parties, most other chains seem open to raising the age limit, provided they are not ‘the only one’. Foodwatch sees, among others, Albert Heijn, Jumbo, and Plus willing to make changes, which together account for a market share of 90 percent. Now the rest needs to follow. Vomar, Dirk, Dekamarkt, and also Albert Heijn are advocating for new and clear legislation.

Call to action
It is now up to the Ministry of Health to take action. Pediatricians have been clearly indicating for years that these drinks lead to restlessness, fatigue, and heart rhythm disorders in children and young people, and that it is completely irresponsible to sell these drinks indiscriminately to young people. This same ministry previously refused (in 2018) to implement a legal age limit, we are curious about their response this time.

Source: RTL Nieuws