Energy Drinks Jim Shepherd

05/06/2026

It gets better in Quebec! This is a extract from a press release from the Order of Pharmacists of Quebec: "Selling these drinks in places adjacent to those where these young people come to collect their medication represents an inconsistency that we cannot ignore."

05/06/2026

The people of Quebec are very serious about protecting children. Hey Shoppers Drug Mart, what about you?
Pharmacies in Ontario are not permitted to sell ci******es - in the interest of contributing to healthier communities - what about energy drinks? Shoppers Drug mart has one of the best varieties of energy drinks on their store shelves.

A petition calling for a ban on sales to anyone under 16 has surpassed 35,000 signatures and is set to be tabled at the National Assembly.

05/01/2026

Spain posted a draft Law on the EU regulation system website to prohibit the sale of energy drinks to persons under 16.
This standard pursues this objective by:
(i) the establishment of limitations on the sale and supply of energy drinks with a stimulating effect to people under 16 years of age and their consumption by this group;
(ii) restricting advertising, promotion and sponsorship, prohibiting messages directed to persons under 16 years of age; and
(iii) the articulation of preventive and training measures, with a comprehensive approach, through campaigns, programs and information, awareness and sensitization actions in the health, consumer, educational, sports, youth and commercial fields.

https://technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu/es/notification/27725

05/01/2026

Even a Quebec store is initiating their own ban to under 16's. Kudos to them!
Although I have tried hard for years (and currently am now) to get the Ontario government on board to protect children and youth, Quebec is clearly taking this important issue very seriously.
I think the voice over could use a bit of improvement though :)

66 likes, 34 comments. "Boissons énergisantes: un commerce refuse la vente aux moins de 16 ans"

04/30/2026

Punjab bans sale of energy drinks to minors for one year. Strict action near schools, citing health risks from high caffeine consumption. Another wise jurisdiction!

Punjab’s Department of Health and Family Welfare has issued a prohibition order restricting the sale of energy drinks to minors. The directive, issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Punjab, will remain in force for one year starting April 21.

04/29/2026

There is great momentum in Quebec for the support of restricting the sale of energy drinks to kids. the Aug 29, 2026 CityNews Everywhere headline (and others) reads "Energy drinks: Several Quebec sports organizations call for a ban" and goes on to say, "Following the lead of schools, a dozen sports organizations in Quebec are now calling for a ban on energy drinks for those under 16. Sports Québec, which represents 67 sports federations, the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) joined the Zachary Miron Movement on Tuesday." and, 86 per cent of Quebecers surveyed support the ban on sales to those under 16.

04/25/2026

I need your help! Please share!
The Quebec petition - on the official Quebec National Assembly website - to support a ban of sale of energy drinks to children in Quebec, is closing early (May 5th). We will be able to use the results of the petition for advocacy in other parts of Canada too. I posted the link on this awareness page March 21st, this morning the petition has over 30,300 signatures. WOW!

But wait, how many people can we get to sign it (you don't even have to live in Quebec or Canada) if YOU shared my post?

I am asking you to like and share this post. Don't wait!

You have likely heard of the "small-world phenomenon" or the "six degrees of separation." It is the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from anyone else on the planet. With social media there are estimates that we are now much closer to each other than the six step findings of Stanley Milgram’s 1967 small-world experiment.

On March 21st I had one share, other than my own. I think we can do better than that, don't you?

Let's have some fun and see how the number of signatories rise this weekend, if each of you SHARES this post on your timeline, or goes one step further and sends it out in an email to friends and family.

It won't just be fun, we will have a concrete statement that people want children and youth to be protected from these potentially dangerous products.

Help me get the whole world to sign.

Did you know that one of the primary drivers for the upcoming UK age restriction on the sale of Eds, was a teachers union? It proves that your voice is important. If everyone just speaks up, politicians can't ignore us. Please speak up. It only takes a few clicks.

At the top of the page when the link opens, you should have the choice to change the language to English. I know some have said they did not have that option, see the comment section for information on how to fill out the form in french.

CONSIDÉRANT les recommandations du rapport du comité consultatif mandaté par le gouvernement du Québec pour mieux encadrer les boissons énergisantes caféinées en 2023, incluant notamment l’interdiction de la vente de ce type de boissons aux mineurs, tel qu’appuyé par la Direction de la s...

04/23/2026

Interview with David Bowles, Director General at Collège Charles-Lemoyne in Longueuil, QC. - Education is important, but we need legislation to prevent children and youth from purchasing these products. He also commented that he has never seen such diverse mobilization on a legislative issue, as he has seen with the call for a restriction of sale to minors in Quebec.

Quebec parents, educators calling for energy drink ban for youth following teen's death

04/22/2026

In Nov 2025, a study (see link in 1st comment) asked the question - "Does consumption of caffeinated coffee have a beneficial, detrimental, or neutral effect on the risk of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes?," The finding was that "Consumption of coffee and other caffeinated products may be reasonably considered in patients with AF." Wow, energy drinks too?

This statement sparked a deep concern from some ED researchers, and they wrote a letter to the editor. Here are a few quotes from the letter, as it is behind a paywall. "However, extrapolating
these benefits to “other caffeinated products” warrants
caution and may pose a public health risk....
Energy drinks have been associated with numerous arrhythmic adverse events and emergency department visits. Reports to the National Poison Data System of moderate or major medical outcomes are significantly higher with energy drinks (6.8%) when compared with coffee (0.2%) While the exact mechanisms are unknown, it is possible that the combination of active ingredients in energy drinks, including taurine and caffeine, alters cardiac....
Until more data are available, energy drinks should not be considered equivalent to caffeine or coffee in patients with underlying arrhythmic disorders."

04/20/2026

"Public health initiatives and clinical interventions aimed at reducing SSB intake may help mitigate the rising prevalence of anxiety disorders, specifically among adolescents."

Background Adolescence is a critical period for mental health, with anxiety disorders becoming increasingly prevalent. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have been identified as a potential dietary fa...

04/19/2026

The CBC Apr 16, 2026 headline reads, "Doctors Nova Scotia explains how energy drinks can be harmful to youth." "Quebec is thinking about banning the sale of energy drinks to young people after a 15-year-old on ADHD medication died after consuming Red Bull. Dr. Amanda MacDonald Green, president-elect of Doctors Nova Scotia, explains why the group has been pushing for a ban on energy drinks for youth under 18."