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29 March 2024

Dealers told to abide by new energy drink rules

Published
By Nadim Kawach

The UAE Ministry of Economy summoned major traders on Wednesday to ask them to comply with new rules governing the sale of energy drinks following reports such caffeine-rich beverages have caused deaths worldwide, Al Khaleej reported on Thursday.

The new curbs, which involve a ban on sale of energy drinks to people under 16 years old, will be enforced by October 29 and dealers were told at Wednesday’s meeting to meet that deadline, the paper said, quoting Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry.

“During the meeting, the Ministry informed all local departments and key shopping outlets of the new regulations for the sale of energy drinks to be enforced on October 29. "We will hold another meeting with dealers next week to ensure they will abide by these regulations,” Nuaimi said.

He said the Ministry would begin inspections of all shops selling such types of drinks after the deadline to make sure they do not violate those rules.

“Offenders will be fined and those who repeat the offence will be prosecuted and have their shops shut for one week.”

In a statement earlier, Nuaimi said the new measures followed reports received by UAE health authorities that a number of people had died after consuming energy drinks, which include Red Bull, Red Power, Lucozade and other beverages containing high caffeine concentration.

Energy drinks, which are soft beverages advertised as boosting energy usually do not emphasize energy derived from the calories they contain but rather through a choice of caffeine, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Generally, energy drinks include a high level of caffeine, vitamin B, and herbs. Other common ingredients are guarana, acai, and taurine, plus various forms of ginseng, maltodextrin, carbonated water, inositol, carnitine and creatine.

Some contain high levels of sugar and many brands also offer artificially-sweetened 'diet' versions. The central ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine.

A variety of physiological and psychological effects have been attributed to energy drinks and their ingredients.

Excess consumption of energy drinks may induce mild to moderate euphoria primarily caused by stimulant properties of caffeine and may also induce agitation, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.