MPs passed the bill on the ban with a vote of 174 for, none against and no abstentions.

The bill's authors had pointed to risks related to energy drink consumption by young people identified by organisations of healthcare professionals and cited several hundred instances of youth being treated in hospital after consuming excessive amounts of energy drinks.

The law will come into force 30 days after its promulgation.

An explanatory report reveals a growing trend in energy drink consumption among minors, with around 10% of high school students reportedly consuming them daily.

Health experts - including the Hungarian Society of Cardiology and the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy - warn that overuse of energy drinks can seriously harm young people’s cardiovascular health.

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol can also result in lasting damage to vital organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys.

A bill aiming to ban energy drinks for those under 18 was submitted by KDNP MPs Lőrinc Nacsa and István Hollik. Hollik noted that after proposing the bill, they were contacted by many concerned parents.

“These stories have strengthened our resolve to push forward, despite the hurdles,” he said. Nacsa added that while approval from Brussels took longer than expected, the process was ultimately successful.

Energy drinks often contain excessive caffeine and sugar, posing serious health risks to young consumers. This concern was echoed by the Young Families’ Club (FICSAK) last year. FICSAK conducted a public survey that gathered nearly 1,000 responses, with 99% agreeing that underage youth should not have access to commercial energy drinks.

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

*********************************

You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: 
Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoop’s groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters

Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here.