Will Hungary ban energy drinks to all?
It will soon become challenging to buy energy drinks in Hungary as these popular products are facing a ban. Lőrinc Nacsa and István Hollik, both members of the parliamentary group of the co-ruling KDNP (Christian Democratic People’s Party), submitted the relevant bill yesterday. Given PM Orbán and his governing parties (Fidesz and KDNP) hold a 2/3rd majority, their proposals are typically passed into law. However, there are instances when public outcry forces Orbán to reconsider a new regulation, as seen in a few exceptions.
There have been rare occasions when PM Orbán had to backtrack and withdraw a bill or regulation, especially concerning significant issues. One such example was the Hungarian Internet Tax, which sparked widespread protests. The government aimed to impose a tax rate of 150 HUF per GB on internet service providers, but the public quickly grasped that consumers would bear the burden. Consequently, peaceful mass demonstrations ensued, leading the government to abandon the proposed tax.
However, in the case of energy drinks, we are unlikely to witness a similar public outcry. The initiative to prohibit the sale of such beverages to minors stems from Lőrinc Nacsa and István Hollik, two KDNP lawmakers. According to portfolio.hu, if the parliament approves the bill, it would become illegal to sell energy drinks to customers under 18. We covered the background of this proposal in a previous article HERE.
Are energy drinks harmful to your health?
The bill stipulates that those violating this regulation would face penalties akin to those for selling alcoholic beverages, tobacco or sexual products to minors.
In the explanatory section of the bill, the lawmakers highlight the escalating consumption of energy drinks among minors. Data from the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK) revealed nearly 500 reports of illnesses and adverse effects due to energy drink consumption.
Of these reports, 26% involved girls, while 74% involved boys. However, the age distribution is even more alarming, with 74% of the cases involving underage individuals, primarily in the 15-16 age bracket. The volume of energy drinks consumed ranged from 1 dl to 2.5 litres. Moreover, 22% of the reports mentioned consuming alcohol with energy drinks.
Most people consumed energy drinks at home, with 23% in school and 8% in bars. Healthcare institutions had to intervene in 70% of the cases.
Experts have long warned about the health risks posed by excessive energy drink consumption among young people. The Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) advocates for a European ban on selling energy drinks to minors.
Read also: