The Morena parliamentary group has introduced a legislative initiative to ban the sale of energy drinks to minors, citing potential physical and emotional health risks.
The proposal, which will be a priority in the regular legislative session beginning in September, seeks to amend the General Health Law. It aims to define energy drinks, prohibit their sale to individuals under 18, and establish penalties for violations.
The explanatory statement, signed by Morena Senate coordinator Ricardo Monreal, notes that energy drinks, whose consumption has surged among youth, contain caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, B vitamins, sugar, and other synthetic compounds. While these ingredients may stimulate the central nervous system, the drinks “are not as harmless as they seem,” the document warns.
Regular consumption has been linked to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, and dental problems, according to national and international health reports. Adverse effects can include nausea, vomiting, heart attacks, and even death, particularly when consumed with alcohol or during physical activity in high temperatures.
The proposal also highlights psychological risks, noting that energy drinks can trigger mood swings by causing sudden spikes in energy followed by fatigue. These effects, the statement says, are especially concerning among youth aged 15 to 18, the primary consumers of such products.
Monreal argues the State has a duty to establish effective regulations that protect minors from health risks and external factors that may disrupt their natural development. The initiative underscores the importance of a healthy environment during adolescence, a period marked by major physical and emotional changes.
The bill calls for a clear definition of “energy drink,” a list of standard ingredients, and restrictions on marketing targeted at minors, citing long-term health consequences.