Parents and pediatricians are calling for the U.S. to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to minors, reports Reuters. One such beverage is Prime Energy, which has 200 mg of caffeine per can, exceeding permissible caffeine levels in some countries, including Canada.
As caffeine levels in drinks have increased over the past few years, some countries and retailers have either banned the beverages or required proof of age for purchase; however, in the U.S. and U.K., no regulations exist for the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks. Dr. Holy Benjamin, a pediatrics professor at the University of Chicago, shared that retailers in the U.S. are unlikely to restrict access without legal mandates.
"Retailers could choose to place sports drinks and energy drinks in different locations and label the sections differently; but I think that is unlikely to happen without regulation which starts with better product labeling and widespread education," said Benjamin, adding "Any energy drink with a high dose of caffeine in it, such as Prime Energy, is unsafe for children."
Reuters shared that the FDA is reviewing a request by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to investigate the caffeine content in Prime Energy in addition to its marketing to children. Brand founders and social media influencers Logan Paul and KSI contended in August that they aren’t marketing the drink to children and that retailers should police sales to minors. Full Story
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