Minister Stórá proposes ban on energy drinks for children in Denmark

There should be a ban on the sale of energy drinks to children and young people under the age of 18 or under 16, which should be established under food laws. This assertion comes from Margit Stórá, the Minister of Health, in response to a question from lawmaker Steffan Klein Poulsen.

Since food law is not within her jurisdiction, Stórá plans to discuss measures with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to protect children and adolescents from energy drinks. She believes it is not beneficial for young people to consume these beverages.

To ensure the safety of children and young people, Stórá argues that warning labels on energy drinks should clearly indicate that they are stimulating drinks that can affect the mind and body. She emphasizes that energy drinks should not be categorized with soft drinks or sports drinks.

In December 2014, the Public Health Council issued recommendations regarding energy drinks to the Minister of Health. The recommendations stipulated that energy drinks should be sold separately in stores and clearly labeled to indicate that they contain stimulating substances that can be harmful in large quantities, particularly when consumed with alcoholic beverages. They also advised against consumption by individuals under the age of 18.

The Health Authority has informed the Minister that the recommendations from the Public Health Council, which are soon to be ten years old, will be updated. In 2017, the Health Inspection Agency stated that energy drinks are not intended for children’s consumption.