Lawmaker proposes energy drink ban for anyone under 19
Baku, December 9 (AZERTAC). Anyone under the age of 19 on Long Island would be banned from buying non-alcoholic energy drinks under a proposal introduced by a Republican lawmaker in the Suffolk County legislature.
The ban, which would be the first of its kind in the country, was introduced on Tuesday by county legislator Lynne Nowick.
"These drinks can potentially be dangerous for teens," Nowick told WNBC/Channel 4. "Why put foreign things in your body when you don`t know what`s going into them? The drinks are not regulated."
The ban would target energy drinks with more than 80 milligrams of caffeine per serving such as Red Bull, according to the bill.
The county legislature could vote on the proposal sometime next year.
Energy drinks, especially ones containing alcohol, have come under increased scrutiny over the past few weeks.
Just last month, the Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to four manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks often consumed by college students, saying the caffeine added to their beverages is an "unsafe food additive."
FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said the combinations of caffeine and alcohol in the drinks is a public health concern and can lead to "a state of wide-awake drunk."
Evidence has shown their consumption has led to alcohol poisoning, car accidents and assaults, she said.
In response to such incidents, four states — Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma — have banned the beverages.
One of the beverages in question, Four Loko, comes in several varieties, including fruit punch and blue raspberry.
A single-serving 23.5-ounce can sells for about $2.50 and has an alcohol content of 12 percent, comparable to four beers, according to the company`s website.
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