The Punjab government bans energy Drinks in Schools.
The Punjab government notification banning energy drinks in schools points out that they are heavily marketed to children and contain high levels of caffeine that could impact health.
Amid its ongoing crusade against drugs, Punjab has become the first state in the country to ban energy drinks in and around schools to keep the children away from caffeine addiction.
A notification to this effect was issued by the government on Tuesday, banning the sale of energy drinks in school canteens and outside school premises.
The notification, issued by FDA
The notification, issued by Dilraj Singh Sandhawalia, Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Punjab, States that it is “just and necessary” to prohibit the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks by children. “…in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, prohibit in the interest of public health,
the sale of energy drinks to the children and also to prohibit sale of energy drinks in school canteens/tuck shops/shops or establishments within the area of 100 meters of school premises in rural areas and within the area of 50 meters of school premises in urban areas, in any case in the state of Punjab for one year with effect from April 21, 2025,” the notification reads.
What the notification saysThe notification says that energy drinks are heavily marketed to children and young adults and others and manufacturers compare the effects of the drinks to the use of drugs like cocaine. These are generally non-alcoholic beverages containing caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, taurine, ginseng, inositol, carnitine, B-vitamins, etc., as main ingredients that act as stimulants, it adds.
ਖਾਣਾ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਕੇਵਲ ਪਾਣੀ ‘ਤੇ ਵਰਤ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲੀ 18 ਸਾਲਾ ਕੁੜੀ ਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਮੌਤ,
In recent years, it further states, several different energy drinks have been introduced in the Indian market to provide an energy boost or as dietary supplements. These drinks contain high levels of caffeine (added at levels of up to 80 mg per serve) that stimulate the nervous system, it adds.