MSP calls for under-16s energy drink sales ban

SNP politician urges retailers to act as he hailed The Courier’s campaign

An Angus MSP has raised the dangers of so-called energy drinks in the Scottish Parliament, and called for retailers to “do the right thing” and stop selling the products to under-16s.

Angus South SNP MSP Graeme Dey hailed The Courier’s Can It campaign during the debate yesterday evening, saying it had helped raise awareness of the problems the drinks pose.

He welcomed support for his parliamentary motion, which calls on retailers to stop selling energy drinks to young people.

Mr Dey said: “The response from many parts of the sector to this issue, including the Co-op and the Federation of Retail Newsagents, has been excellent. But it’s now time for all retailers to be bold and voluntarily ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.

“Two years ago, a British Medical Journal report found strong links between energy drinks and symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, hyperactivity and insomnia in young people.

“Teachers tell me energy drinks are causing significant behavioural problems in schools, with many hyperactive teenagers interrupting classes after consuming high-caffeine drinks off campus at lunchtime.

“That is why I’m calling for more research into the risks of high-caffeine energy drinks, and for all retailers and sponsors alike to act responsibly and voluntarily stop selling and promoting energy drinks to young people.”

Conservative MSP and former gold medal-winning athlete Brian Whittle said the issue of energy drinks had to be considered “in the round” as part of a wider strategy that also looks at physical activity and nutrition.

Labour MSP Jackie Bailie supported Mr Dey’s motion, and highlighted statistics from the British Nutrition Foundation which showed consumption of energy drinks in the UK has risen from 463 million litres in 2010 to 672m litres in 2016. She called for further regulation in the energy drinks market because of the health implications.

Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for mid Scotland and Fife, said the issue brought “into sharp focus, the responsibilities of food companies, the responsibilities of public institutions and retailers as well.”

Mr Ruskell also congratulated the Can It campaign for its efforts to get energy drinks banned from schools, saying it “has brought a much-needed debate about the health impacts of these drinks in classrooms”.

Responding, Minister for Public Health and Sport Aileen Campbell said: “Our proposed amendments to the school food and drink regulations will move them closer to the Scottish dietary goals, and they will see a tightening of the already stringent standards by restricting sugar free drinks containing more than 150mgs of caffeine per litre in secondary schools.”

Teachers tell me energy drinks are causing significant behavioural problems in schools. GRAEME DEY MSP