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| Erion Braçe speaking in Parliament |
Following the initiative for the removal of casinos and sports betting, the government has introduced in the Parliament an initiative to limit the trading of energy drinks and carbonated drinks with added sugar and ban these drinks for people under the age of 18.
Erion Brace said from the podium of the Parliament that also the aggressive advertisement for these products will be limited.
In addition to tobacco alcohol, young Albanian will be protected also from energy drinks and gas beverages that contain added sugar. A group of deputies have made almost a bill, proposing the ban on trading and delivering these drinks to persons under 18, not only in school premises, but also in shops, bars or restaurants.
The fourteen articles of the draft law that will be part of the law "On protection of minors from the use of alcohol" aim at restrictions such as the use of trade or advertising of such drinks for minors, accompanied by fines for adults, which varies from 10 to 30 thousand leks, depending on where the drink is offered.
Sanctions are also for the advertising of these drinks in public areas, streets or parks, a fine ranging from 100-200 thousand leks. The draft law proposes the same restrictions, but energy drinks and carbonated beverages, which contain added sugar, just like alcohol, relating to ads.
A similar problem has been raised a few months ago in Kosovo. The Health Commission of Kosovo has decided that all such beverages should be marked "+18", to stop their sale within and near schools, and soon to establish a legal framework. The consumption of such drinks in recent years has been part of the worries in some parts of the world, some of which have already taken their measures.
Other countries have tightened the regulatory framework for marketing unhealthy drinks for children by setting time constraints or specific programs.
The accompanying report of the draft law also uses as arguments the studies of some EU countries, which have produced problematic data, while endangering endless risks as a result of excessive use of energy drinks, starting from nervousness, tension and insomnia to cardiac arrest.
One in three young people report the consumption of energy drinks
Energy drinks account for 20% of the food products that are on the market. As their market presence increases, the toxic risk from taurine or caffeine overdoses is as high.