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The report “Only pharmacies may sell energy drinks” (May 24) is very heartening. This move should be appreciated and we highly commend the Kingdom’s Consumer Protection Society, which is currently preparing a proposal to limit the sale of energy drinks to pharmacies and to restrict their sale to consumers over 18.
To experiment is part of human nature and sometimes I feel that consumption of energy drinks is basically seen as an adventure — to try the unknown. People particularly the youths try these drinks for fun despite their harmful effects.
It is not just caffeine in such drinks that is a source of concern but they are high in sugar. It is said that a 250 ml can of certain brands of energy drinks contain a frightening figure of five-and-a-half cubes of sugar. This is not good for health. Many youths appear to be somewhat addicted to these drinks. According to Peter Rogers, professor of biological psychology at Bristol University, caffeine may not be addictive but it does create dependency.
He says, “Caffeine creates a state of dependency where if one stops taking it one feels fatigued and studies show this happens in children as well.” The British Soft Drinks Association says high-caffeine energy drinks are not suitable for children, and its code of practice states that products containing more than 150mg caffeine per liter must carry the warning, “Not suitable for children, pregnant women and persons sensitive to caffeine.” We hope that the Kingdom’s Consumer Protection Society and other relevant authorities will ensure effective implementation of this decision. — S.H. Moulana, Riyadh