The GVH suspects that several campaigns promoting energy drinks were primarily aimed at the younger age group.Continue reading
A proposal to restrict the consumption of energy drinks could be adopted in the spring session of parliament, Lőrinc Nacsa and István Hollik, MPs from the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) said in a joint video published on their Facebook page on Tuesday.
István Hollik pointed out that since they submitted their bill to ban energy drinks for under-18s, many parents have contacted them.
Their stories and strong pleas have confirmed that despite the many obstacles, we must persevere,”
he emphasized.
Lőrinc Nacsa stressed that the proposal only had to be “pushed through” Brussels. It took longer than expected, but they finally succeeded. Now all the obstacles have been cleared for it to be voted on in the spring session of parliament, which started on Monday.
The proposal to restrict the consumption of energy drinks has long been on the table in Hungary.
Energy drinks have many harmful effects, such as the extremely high levels of caffeine and sugar in them, which could pose a serious risk to the younger consumers,
as was highlighted by the Young Families’ Club (FICSAK) last year. The club made an opinion survey on the topic that was answered by nearly a thousand people. The results showed that 98.8 percent of respondents agreed that commercial energy drinks should not be available to underage children.
When the proposal was drafted last year, it pointed out that the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy – and its predecessor – received a total of 565 reports of energy drink-related events, sickness, and adverse symptoms in the period under review, from November 1, 2011 to October 13, 2023. The amount of energy drink consumed varied from 1 deciliter to 2.5 liters per person. In 21.5 percent (97 cases), energy drinks were consumed with alcohol.
The data also showed that 74 percent (333) of the 450 people affected by symptoms and sickness were under 18 years old.
Symptoms associated with energy drink consumption were also noted: dizziness, fainting, vomiting, nausea, strong palpitations, tremors, numbness of the left hand, high blood pressure, headache, chest pain, restlessness. Adverse effects have included: caffeine overdose, late miscarriage in pregnant women, low birth weight, stillbirth, negative effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems in children and adolescents, and addiction.
Not everyone agrees with the ban, naturally. While the Hungarian Energy Drinks Association agrees that children should be protected from all dangers, in this case they believe in education rather than prohibition.
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