Health
Energy Drinks: Advocating for Education Instead of Prohibition
Energy drinks are primarily designed for healthy adults seeking a rapid boost in energy and alertness. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a safe consumption limit, indicating that a healthy adult can consume up to five energy drink cans per day without significant concerns, according to Sándor Csibi, Secretary General of the Hungarian Energy Drinks Association. However, it's worth noting that this viewpoint faces dispute among various health experts.
Sándor Csibi emphasized the importance of approaching all foods and even water with moderation. The association aligns with the notion that children should be safeguarded from potential risks associated with energy drinks, but rather than advocating for an outright ban, they believe in the power of education.
It is vital to disseminate extensive information about the purpose of energy drinks, their target audience, who should avoid them, and what constitutes a safe level of consumption.
This debate came to the forefront when Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) LÅ‘rinc Nacsa and István Hollik proposed legislation to prohibit the sale of energy drinks to individuals under the age of 18. Both politicians, representing the governing party, underlined their commitment to child protection, citing alarming statistics, including the treatment of an average of 100 children under 18 for energy drink-related issues by the ambulance service annually over the last four years.
Nacsa recalled a tragic incident from a year ago, where a 14-year-old boy who had consumed energy drinks before school died of cardiac arrest in Hatvan, northern Hungary. Teachers have also reported a common occurrence of students dozing off in class around 10-11 a.m. when the effects of pre-school energy drink consumption wear off. This has prompted calls for a classification akin to alcoholic products to address the issue effectively.
The Secretary General of the Hungarian Energy Drinks Association underscored that not only are energy drinks not recommended for children, but anything containing caffeine, including coffee, energy drinks, and Coca-Cola, falls under the same category. He pointed out that a liter of cola contains as much sugar and caffeine as an energy drink, and if the objective is to safeguard children, then cola should also be considered for restriction among individuals under 18. In this context, he emphasized that ensuring children receive adequate sleep and rest is the preferred method for maintaining energy and vitality.
Pediatrician Tamás Bense also weighed in on the proposal to ban energy drinks for minors, acknowledging that caffeine is present in various daily consumables such as coffee and cola. However, he noted that patients hospitalized for caffeine overdose were predominantly consumers of energy drinks, particularly among children. It's been observed that teenagers often consume more than a single can of energy drink, potentially resulting in heightened energy levels, sleep disturbances, elevated blood pressure, and the risk of heart problems in many cases.
