Latest news with #SharonKeogan
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Government delays Bill to ban sale of energy drinks to under 18s
The Government's plan to delay by 18 months progress on legislation to ban the sale of energy drinks to under 18s has been criticised by the Senator who championed the Bill. Independent Senator Sharon Keogan, who introduced the Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill, said stalling it could undermine efforts to protect young people from the 'health risks posed by high-caffeine, high-sugar energy drinks'. As well as banning the sale of energy drinks to children the legislation also provides for mandatory health warnings similar to those on tobacco and alcohol products. It targets drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre, or which contain the stimulant taurine. The drinks would be banned in schools, youth clubs and any venue attended by under 18s, and restrictions would be placed on advertising. READ MORE 'While marketed in flashy cans and trendy branding, the contents of these drinks have serious physiological implications,' said the Co Meath Senator. Ms Keoghan pointed to research which linked energy drink consumption 'to anxiety, sleep disturbance, obesity, and heart issues among adolescents'. She added that some brands contained up to 17 teaspoons of sugar in a single bottle, and the standard 250ml energy drink contained the caffeine content of five cans of cola. Similar bans in countries like Lithuania, Latvia, and Hungary have already resulted in a drop in consumption rates among minors, she added. Independent Senator Rónán Mullen said in some cases caffeine levels are between 160mg and 200mg per can. 'That is double the amount found in an average cup of coffee which would be approximately 80mg depending on the strength.' He pointed to observations by the HSE's lead on obesity, Dr Donal O'Shea, 'that they are bad for your ability to concentrate, attention span and if you have any tendency towards anxiety they drive that'. 'He says they should simply not be freely available to purchase as they are at the moment.' Mr Mullen said many parents know very little about these drinks and the extent of consumption by their children. Minister of State for Health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said it would take 18 months to months to carry out the 'necessary evidence-gathering, research and examination of appropriate policy options and stakeholder engagement'. She acknowledged the commitment in the programme for government to 'explore restrictions on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children'. Ms Murnane O'Connor said the Department of Health is 'at the very early stages of considering the process' but 'we are committed to safeguarding health and wellbeing and seeking what is best policy and practice to achieve that'. A 'thorough assessment' is 'essential' to 'evaluate any public health concerns with regard to energy drink consumption by children and young adults in Ireland and to determine appropriate policy measures'. The Minister said policy measures 'must be grounded in the best available scientific evidence'. Any regulations to restrict or ban sales to children 'will need to be robust, appropriate and based on the weighing up of the scientific evidence'.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Bill to ban sale of energy drinks to children to be debated in the Seanad
It is currently at the discretion of shops if they sell energy drinks to minors or not, but new legislation would prohibit their sale to anyone under the age of 18 due to concerns around their health impacts. The bill, which targets energy drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre or drinks with more than 80mg of caffeine per litre in addition to substances like taurine which 'may stimulate the central nervous system', would also include restrictions on advertising the drinks to under-18s. Ads for the drinks would not be allowed near a school, youth club or at other venues attended by children under the legislation, while product packaging would also need to carry a warning of the 'adverse effects to a person's health of excessive consumption or use of stimulant drinks'. 'This legislation is necessary as it addresses the growing public health concerns surrounding the widespread availability and consumption of stimulant drinks, commonly known as energy drinks, among children and adolescents,' said Senator Sharon Keogan, who co-sponsored the bill alongside senators Diarmuid Wilson, Rónán Mullen and Sarah O'Reilly. "These beverages, which are often high in not only caffeine and sugar but also other stimulants such as taurine, have been linked to adverse health effects, including sleep disturbances, increased anxiety, and cardiovascular issues in young people.' One 500ml energy drink can contain up to 14 level tablespoons of sugar or the equivalent of three cups of espresso, according to research conducted by health body Safefood. It comes as a commitment was made in the Programme for Government to 'explore restrictions on the sale of high caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children'. The Irish Heart Foundation has been among those who have lobbied for a ban on the sale of energy drinks to children, including measures such as health warnings and restrictions on marketing and price promotions. A plan to prohibit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s was also among the Labour Party's election promises in the UK last year. A number of European countries have already taken steps to prohibit the sale of drinks to energy drinks to minors, including Lithuania, which introduced a ban on their sale to under-18s in 2014, and Poland, which implemented strict regulations last year. Ms Keogan said such bans have resulted in 'significant drops in the consumption of stimulant drinks among minors'.
RTÉ News
13-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Legislation to ban sale of stimulant drinks paused
The Cabinet has decided to pause a piece of legislation that would ban the sale of stimulant drinks to those under the age of 18. The legislation which was introduced by Independent Senator Sharon Keogan, is currently before the Seanad. The proposed ban also has the backing of senators, Diarmuid Wilson, Ronan Mullen and Sarah O'Reilly. It defines a stimulant drink as a non-alcoholic beverage for human consumption which contains more than 80 milligrams of caffeine per litre. These drinks also have substances which stimulate the central nervous system. The ban on the sale and promotion of these drinks would not cover tea and coffee. The Government today agreed to table what is called a timed amendment which will pause any ban for at least 18 months. The Programme for Government does commit to "explore restrictions on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children". However, a Government spokesperson said this evening that a body of work first needs to be carried out to identify any public health concerns and appropriate policy responses. "It is too early at this stage to consider draft legislation as set out in this Private Member's Bill," they said.
