Members of the Civic Coalition asked the Ministry of Health whether work is underway on a bill prohibiting the sale of energy drinks to young people under 16 years of age. “Experts and doctors are increasingly sounding the alarm that drinking them, especially in large quantities, has a significant negative impact on health” – they noted in the interpellation. There is a reply from Deputy Minister of Health Waldemar Kraski.
Aleksandra Gajewska and Aleksander Miszalski from the Civic Coalition addressed an interpellation to the Minister of Health regarding the ban on the sale of energy drinks to persons under 16 years of age. “Energy drinks are readily available in every grocery store, although experts and doctors are increasingly sounding the alarm that drinking them, especially in large quantities, has a significant negative impact on health,” wrote MEPs.
The parliamentarians pointed out that “you can also hear more and more often about cases of addiction to energy drinks, which is very dangerous for our health and can have many side effects.”
Therefore, KO MPs asked whether the Ministry of Health was working on a law prohibiting the sale of energy drinks to persons under 16 years of age.
Drinking energy drinks – Waldemar Kraska about possible consequences
Deputy Minister of Health Waldemar Kraska In response to the question, he quoted results of a study conducted in 2022 by the Institute of Mother and Child (IMiD) in Warsaw and the University of Warsaw.
“From IMiD research conducted on a representative sample of N=7,716 students aged 11, 13, 15, and 17 from 16 voivodships in Poland (students of 5th grade of primary schools = N=1,622; students of 7th grade of primary schools, N=1,571; 1st grade students of secondary schools N=2145; 3rd grade students of secondary schools N=2378) shows that as many as a quarter of the youngest students declare that they drink energy drinks, and the frequency of drinking these drinks increases with age” – wrote the deputy head of the Ministry of Health.
“Often, at least once a week, these drinks are consumed by every tenth 11-year-old and almost half of the 15-year-olds” – noted Kraska.
In his opinion, the impact of energy drinks on the health of children and adolescents should be considered primarily in the context of the psychoactive substance contained in them (caffeine) and the high content of sugars. “Due to the body weight of children, the risk of negative effects of high consumption of these ingredients is higher in children than in adults” – he noted.
According to Kraska, the consumption of energy drinks can lead to caffeine intoxication and withdrawal syndromes, cardiovascular problems, sleep disorders and insomnia, destructive, hyperactive and risky behaviors, mental health problems, as well as long-term health consequences associated with excessive sugar consumption. such as overweight and obesity.
Ban on the sale of energy drinks to persons under 16?
According to the deputy minister, “an important legal act regulating children’s access to energy drinks is the Regulation of the Minister of Health of July 26, 2016 on groups of foodstuffs intended for sale to children and adolescents in educational system units and the requirements that must be met by foodstuffs used as part of nutrition group of children and youth in these units”.
In addition – as he noted – in 2021, a fee was introduced on drinks with added sweeteners and caffeine or taurine, i.e. also energy drinks. “The purpose of the act is to use fiscal policy as a tool to promote healthy consumer choices” – explained the deputy head of the Ministry of Health.
Waldemar Kraska pointed out that for years in many countries around the world there have been discussions on setting the age limit from which drinking beverages can be accepted. “According to EFSA (European Food Safety Authority – ed.), people under the age of 16 should avoid drinking beverages, and the same is the position of the Belgian Health Council” – he pointed out.
Although the deputy minister noted that there are currently no long-term studies on the health consequences of drinking energy drinks at a young age, “for an organism in the phase of intensive development, it seems much too early to look for ways to support and stimulate it”. “Given the worldwide data indicating the harmful effects of energy drinks on children’s health, there is a need to undertake further educational activities in this area” – emphasized Kraska.
The deputy minister said that “the Ministry of Health is analyzing the possibility of introducing restrictions on drinking these beverages by persons under 16 years of age”. “This issue requires both an analysis of possible solutions and the potential effects of their introduction. Currently, no legislative work is being carried out in this area” – he noted.
Last week we reported that the Republican Party demands a ban on the sale of energy drinks to young people under the age of 18. The president of this party Adam Bielan announced that a draft law on this matter would be submitted to the Sejm.
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