MSPs seek crackdown over energy drinks

Holyrood: Ministers asked to look at banning sale of such drinks in publicly funded buildings

Ministers are being asked to draw up plans for banning the sale of energy drinks in publicly funded buildings.

A group of MSPs want to see how the policy would work in practice as they warned of the dangers of caffeinesupercharged beverages.

The call for the drafting of a ban comes on the back of a petition to Holyrood demanding all sales of the drinks to under-16s are outlawed, as well as The Courier’s campaign to banish them from schools.

The Scottish Government responded by proposing a soft ban, in which they urge shopkeepers not to sell them to minors.

Norma Austin Hart, a former Labour councillor, launched the petition “to ban the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children under 16”.

“Every can of energy drink states that it is ‘not recommended for children’ so why do shops and manufacturers of energy drinks market and sell them to children?” she said.

Ms Hart’s plea went before the public petitions committee at Holyrood yesterday.

MSPs are hopeful the Scottish Government’s upcoming obesity strategy will clamp down on the sale and marketing of high-caffeine drinks.

Johann Lamont, the committee convener and Labour MSP, said: “If we can agree that we are seeking to defer consideration of the petition until the diet and obesity strategy is published and perhaps ask ministers how they would support a policy of banning these kind of drinks from publicly-funded premises.”

Michelle Ballantyne, the Conservative MSP, expressed fears over how a ban would be enforced, with questions over the caffeine cap and how to stop adults buying the drinks on behalf of minors.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We welcome the leadership shown by many retailers in restricting the sale of energy drinks to young people under the age of 16.

“I would urge those who have not yet taken this step to do likewise.

“We continue to monitor evidence and carefully consider recommendations made on this issue and would encourage the maximum use of existing powers by local authorities to restrict sale and marketing of energy drinks to children.”

The Courier’s Can It campaign calls on secondary schools across the country to issue a total ban on them on their premises.

High caffeine drinks have been linked with anxiety, behavioural disorders, nausea, tooth decay, obesity and breathing difficulties.

As well as risking pupils’ health, they have been blamed for hampering learning and fuelling disorder in the classroom.

We continue to monitor evidence. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Picture: Kim Cessford. The Courier’s Can It campaign calls on secondary schools across the country to issue a total ban on energy drinks on their premises.