Energy drink ban draws legislative fight
Hartford — A bill originally intended to prohibit kids under age 16 from purchasing energy drinks was drastically amended on the House floor Thursday, sparking criticism from minority Republicans in an extended debate on the role of the legislature in the lives of Connecticut families.
State Rep. Liz Linehan, D-Cheshire, co-chairwoman of the legislative Committee on Children, presided over the 130-minute discussion in which some Republicans spoke in favor of the outright sales ban, and criticized Democrats for not including enough expert members on a so-called working group that would meet and make recommendations on the issue by this November.
After Republicans opposed an amended form of the bill in a solid 97-52 defeat, they offered an amendment of their own to strip away much of the legislation, including mandatory signage at places where energy drinks such as Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy are sold. Only two Democrats sided with Republicans and the amendment failed 94-55.
A second GOP amendment, which would add members including leaders of the Children’s Committee and the Public Health Committee as well as an athletic trainer, earned Linehan’s endorsement and passed in a voice vote.
The final form of the bill passed 85-64 and next goes to the Senate.
Earlier in the week, Linehan introduced similar legislation on the House floor, but it was pulled from debate when it became clear that it would spark a protracted discussion.
On Thursday, it became the first bill of the day, as Linehan explained that committee leaders wanted to hold off on a sales ban this year and allow the working group more time to delve into research sources on the issue.
At one point in a wide-ranging debate that included birth control, childhood vaccines and gender-affirmation surgery, House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North
Branford, who owns a sports complex in his hometown, pointed to a new federal Environmental Protection Agency report, which finds that socalled crumb-rubber athletic fields do not have adverse public health risks, as warned in recent years by some Connecticut lawmakers, advocates, local school officials and parents. Candelora spoke in reaction to a statement Linehan made about alleged health dangers of artificial athletic fields.
Linehan said that the idea for the bill originated from middle school students in Naugatuck after they researched many ingredients in energy drinks, and coming to the General Assembly with their concerns.
“So the concern is that many people actually don’t know what is exactly in those energy drinks,” Linehan said. “Why don’t they know? Because they’re actually not regulated by the FDA. This is really a consumer education bill, so parents can make better choices on behalf of their children.”