Romania has recently introduced a legal restriction on the sale of energy drinks to people under 18. A similar initiative has been proposed in Hungary, but little has been heard about it recently.
24.hu news portal recently contacted the two MPs who raised the proposal, István Hollik (Fidesz) and Lőrinc Nacsa (KDNP), who have reiterated their previous position that the sale and distribution of energy drinks should be regulated.
They stated that
In recent months, we have held consultations with governmental, medical, and family protection civil society organizations. These discussions have confirmed the need for this proposal.”
One of the consulted organizations, the Young Families’ Club, also presented the two MPs with a survey they had conducted. They pointed out that “the results show that society is not indifferent to the harmful effects of energy drinks on children.
98 percent of parents agree with the call for stricter rules to prevent underage children from consuming commercial energy drinks.”
It is important to note that Romanian legislation defines energy drinks as any beverage “containing, in addition to carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, substances that stimulate the central nervous system (such as caffeine, taurine, carnitine, guarana, and glucuronolactone).” The Hungarian Energy Drinks Association’s (Magyar Energiaital Szövetség) position on this definition is that “the energy content exceeds 34 kcal/100 ml and the caffeine content exceeds 30 mg/100 ml and contains vitamins and energizing ingredients.” Comparing the two definitions, the adequacy of the regulation in Hungary may be called into question.
It is also questionable to which places the lawmakers intend to restrict the marketing of energy drinks when introducing the legislation. If strict regulation were to be introduced, it is likely that the distribution of energy drinks would be limited to National Tobacco Stores (Nemzeti Dohánybolt), as most tobacconists sell soft drinks and only adults (over 18) can legally purchase there.
