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Romania’s Chamber of Deputies has finally voted to prohibit energy drink consumption for people under 18 years of age. They banned selling them in schools, hospitals, and institutions that are involved in protecting the vulnerable population. This act aims to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks filled with stimulants like taurine, caffeine, and guarana. It promises fines that can amount up to 30,000 lei for violations.
This action seeks to protect the health and well-being of minors and to prevent the negative effects resulting from the consumption of the beverages on the central nervous system among them. As the decision-maker for the bill, the Chamber of Deputies is the legislative body. It now must be signed by President Klaus Iohannis, after which it will be published in the Official Gazette.
In the document, energy drinks are defined as being composed of alcohol, carbohydrates, vitamins and various combinations of caffeine or taurine, which stimulate the nervous system.
Doctors also warn that energy drinks may cause cardiovascular problems as well as addictions that young people may develop after consuming them regularly. They have the same effects as several cups of strong coffee with lots of sugar.
The studies on energy drink consumption are concerning
Energy drinks are very harmful to the health of the consumers, especially to children, since they contain a very high amount of sugar and caffeine. In 2016, the National Institute of Public Health and the county health departments conducted a study on the perception of the population in vulnerable age groups, the potential consumer, regarding the energy drinks marketed in Romania.
421 adolescents (16-18 years old), 421 adults older than 55, from 41 counties and Bucharest participated in the study.
Among the teenagers who are 16-18 years old, 74% of them admitted to drinking energy drinks. One-third of adults (+55 years old) stated that they drink energy drinks. Younger people between 16 and 18 years (61%) and older ones aged 55 or above (81%) are more likely to drink them for a boost in energy or to avoid the need for sleep.
80% of those who are in the age group of 16-18 and 77% of those above 55 stated that they have experienced symptoms after consuming energy drinks. Among adolescents, nausea/vomiting (41%) and heart palpitations (40%) were common. In adults over 55, there were heart palpitations (37%), headache (27%) or other symptoms (23%).
53% of teens (16-18) and 47% of those over 55 years old are worried that these drinks could harm their health.
58% of teens did not read the energy drinks label versus those over 55 years of age, where 30% did not read the label.
Most participants (94-99%) think that the society needs to be informed about the energy drink's consumption and its impact on the person's health.
In 2023, another teen died after consuming energy drinks
A 17-year-old teenager from Iași died after a fatal overdose of energy drinks. The boy was on a summer program where he had a heart attack. The doctors made efforts in vain to save the young man who died in the presence of his classmates.
For more on this story: https://thebalkan.press/2023/07/23/17-year-old-killed-by-energy-drinks-in-romania/
