Swedish shops ban Red Bull for youngsters

Published: 15 Sep 09 07:22 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22082/20090915/

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Two of Sweden’s largest convenience store chains have elected to ban the sale of Red Bull and other energy drinks to children younger than 15-years-old.

The age-limit goes into effect on Tuesday at Pressbyrån and Seven Eleven shopped throughout the country, according to several media reports.

Both store chains, which have the same owner, decided to implement the age-limit for energy drinks following warnings from school administrators that students were drinking too much Red Bull.

“The age-limit applies to all the energy drinks we offer. We think it’s important that young people don’t suffer from addiction because we sell the drinks,” Pressbryån’s head of marketing, Mariette Kristenson, told the Aftonbladet newspaper.

Doctors in Sweden have earlier issued warnings about several deaths involving energy drinks in combination with alcohol.

Sweden’s National Food Administration (Livsmedelsverket) has for years advised people to avoid quenching their thirst with energy drinks, blend them with alcohol, or use them as a form of hydration during strenuous physical exercise.

Staffan Sparring, chief physician at the Maria Ungdom addiction treatment centre, applauded the age-limit for energy drinks.

“Energy drinks can be seen as a gateway to alcohol; at lots of clubs and restaurants people drink vodka and Red Bull, for example. Therefore it’s not inappropriate with a 15-year-old age limit,” he told the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) newspaper.

TT/David Landes (news@thelocal.se)

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08:14 September 15, 2009 by Tennessee Thunder
Can It get much more stupid than this,don't forget Jack Daniels and coke,so now ban coke,or vodka and sprite.

Utterly Stupid.
08:34 September 15, 2009 by karex
Energy drinks contain substances which considerably speed up the metabolism. At about age 15 my son went overboard once with the consumption of one such drink and had to be rushed to the hospital with heart palpitations.

I think this is a good move! Kids have in average way too much energy as it is without us needing to encourage them to willingly develop Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms artificially.
08:55 September 15, 2009 by Hauhr
Nanny State!
09:44 September 15, 2009 by newswede
Why don't they print the real story, which is 1 of 2 things.

1) The parents complaining are really upset by the outrageous price of RedBull (more than $3!!!) and are looking for a way to stop paying for their kids sugar habit.

2) Pressbyrån and Seven Eleven own substantial stock in a competing product.

In addition, Dr. Staffan Sparring needs to go back to medical school. His quote is supremely misguided and lacking the evidence a medical professional should refer to.
09:54 September 15, 2009 by ooh456
I agree with the ban on energy drinks for kids under 15. Some of them are quite powerful and they are not for kids. I also think they should legalize cocaine and ecstasy for adults over the age of 15. It's just a bit of harmless fun that's gotten a bad rap over time. Party on!
10:20 September 15, 2009 by Gwrhyr
It all seemed reasonable until Steffan Sparring's quote.

At least it's not a national ban.
10:34 September 15, 2009 by Ian11
What does Vodka Redbull have to do with Kids under 15 drinking Redbull?
11:07 September 15, 2009 by BlackfDes
Hej!

I feel sorry for the checkout chicks who will have to police this.

If their job is not already hard and stressful enough with "normal" customers then adding something like this is just adding to an already stressful job. What do the staff say to the kids when they point out that the ban is not legally enforceable?

If the management of the supermarkets want to take responsibility for preventing a certain demographic from accessing this type of drink surely it is much easier on their staff just stop selling these products to all of the public regardless of age.

A big tick of approval for social responsibility but do any of the supermarkets have the resolve to lose some money by not selling these drinks?

cheers

The Black One
16:17 September 15, 2009 by BrittInSweden
@Tennessee Thunder

How many under 15 year olds do you see drinking JD and Coke?
16:33 September 15, 2009 by PolarBearKiit
Cmon!

I'm 15 soon so it's not such a bother to me but right now Red Bull is helping me focus with tests and stuff if not it would be impossible and i mean impossible for me to get anywhere during school and don't comment me back saying go to bed early because i get the right amount of sleep but i'm just one of those teenagers who can litrally sleep forever.But I dont use redbull as a energy drink as do i not depend upon it i simply use it as a replacment for coffie.My friends often go out of school and buy coffie but i would rather take a redbull i do find perhaps it can be addicting if you over indulge in it but This specific shop is going to loose alot of custom the kids will just simply go else were i promise you that.
18:47 September 15, 2009 by jose_s
please... at 15 there is no reason why you need to drink this stuff...

"right now Red Bull is helping me focus with tests and stuff if not it would be impossible and i mean impossible for me to get anywhere..... But I dont use redbull as a energy drink as do i not depend upon it i simply use it as a replacment for coffee"

that sounds like a contradiction to be...
19:04 September 15, 2009 by Harding00
No offense PolarBearKiit, but it seems like you were hopped up on Redbull when you wrote your post. You have only three periods in that entire post. Lay off the Redbull, ok?
02:12 September 19, 2009 by Canada_Girl
@11

If your word choice, grammar, and punctuation are a reflection of your skill acquisition when using an energy drink to concentrate, I'd say you're in trouble my little friend.
02:17 September 28, 2009 by JonnyDee
I think this is great, will it work? Probably not, but what else can you do?
15:13 January 9, 2010 by PolarBearKiit
I see all of your points of view.

And yeah i can understand why you think it's a contradiction but it's not Red bull is a caffeine substance and for those of that doesn't like Coca Cola or coffee it's a good replacement. What would swedes do without their fika ? :)
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