It’s official: energy drinks banned in Hungary for youth
The Hungarian Parliament passed a ban on energy drinks in April, but gave time for the Hungarian government to define which substances should be prohibited for consumption by minors. With the publication of the relevant government decree, the ban entered into force this morning.
According to hvg.hu, passing the law concerning the prohibition of energy drinks for minors in Hungary took more than a year. Afterwards, the Hungarian government worked on defining the precise detailed regulations, which were published this morning. According to the government decree, it is forbidden to sell drinks to minors in Hungary that contain certain ingredients. However, they admit that authorities are unable to control consumption; therefore, it will be the responsibility of restaurants, bars, and disco owners not to sell those drinks to guests under 18.
Based on the decree, drinks containing the following compounds are considered energy drinks in Hungary: methylxanthine group (methylxanthine) in an amount exceeding 15 mg per 100 ml, or containing methylxanthine along with any of the following substances, are prohibited for young people:
- ginseng,
- L-arginine,
- inositol,
- glucuronolactone,
- taurine.
Agriculture Minister István Nagy’s decree supplements this by requiring sellers and producers to inform customers that drinks containing the previously mentioned substances are energy drinks, which must be visibly displayed on the container. Furthermore, the minister prescribes that the letters informing customers should be at least 3 mm tall. Products not in line with the rules can be sold only until 31 December.
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