The Energy Drink Dilemma

What’s new in Canadian health? Well, recently an expert panel for Health Canada has recommended regulations on energy drinks. Based upon their high caffeine content the panel believes they should be labeled as a “stimulating drug drink”, sold only in pharmacies, and consumed under pharmacist supervision (schmidt, 2011).

But where does all the concern about energy drinks come from?

The primary concern lays with the popularity and over consumption of energy drinks within the younger population. The recommended daily caffeine intake for those under 12 is 2.5mg/kg of body weight, or about 1-2 12oz cans of cola a day (Health Canada, 2010). The caffeine content found in the top 5 most popular energy drinks ranges from 80-174mg. Youth are exposed naturally to caffeine through certain foods and beverages, but now are increasing their exposure by ingesting these highly caffeinated drinks. Too much caffeine results in known health effects including general toxicity (nausea, irritability), heart rate, cholesterol and blood pressure issues, to name a few (2010). And so, the issue lies with youth’s increased vulnerability to caffeine intoxication due to their inexperience with and decreased tolerance to caffeine because of simple characteristics like age or weight.

So, how do we ensure that youth are consuming energy drinks safely and responsibly when often their main concern is not with potential health risks, but rather the immediate energy boost they obtain?

Parents can become aware of health risks and disallow consumption of energy drinks, but there is only so much they can do when they are highly marketable and are made so widely available to anyone.

This is where we rely on Health Canada to act. They already provide information about potential health risks and continually review findings on recommended caffeine intake levels, but this type of action has not hindered the billion-dollar industry that is energy drinks. Now, their expert panel is calling for new action that includes tighter restrictions on the energy drink market.

As Health Canada wrestles with its decision regarding the recommendations, we as Canadians or as parents wrestle with our own involvement with energy drinks. Do we take a stance against energy drink availability? Do we find the proposed regulations too extreme? Or do we believe there is a happy medium between the two?

Here are a few links if your are interested in more information or are interested in taking action.

Click here to access an article further detailing the controversy surrounding Health Canada's panels recommendations.

Click here to access a petition encouraging sale restriction.

By: Hana MacDougall

References:

Health Canada. (2010). Caffeine. Retrieved from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-

vsv/food-aliment/caffeine-eng.php.

Schmidt, S. (2011). Exclusive: Health Canada panel takes aim at energy drinks.

PostMedia news: The Star Pheonix. Retrieved from:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Exclusive+Health+Canada+panel+t

akes+energy+drinks/5432092/story.html.