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.
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Also joining the effort are the M18 AAA Hockey Development League, the Quebec Federation of Physical Education Teachers, the Filleactive organization, the Alliance Sport-Études, and the Aléo Foundation.
Together, these organizations represent over one million members across the province, the majority of whom are young people.
The Quebec Federation of Kinesiologists, the Collectif Vital, and the Quebec Public Health Association (ASPQ) are now also part of the movement.
“We are no longer just a few school administrations, (but) a reflection of society,” said Collège de Montréal executive director Patricia Steben, in a news release on Tuesday.
“Until regulations are officially amended to protect our youth, our movement will continue to grow,” she added.
Zachary Miron died at the age of 15 while on a ski trip with his class. The combination of the Red Bull he had consumed and his ADHD medication caused an arrhythmia that led to his sudden death.
Since then, his parents have been fighting to ban the sale of these drinks to minors. Their petition has already gathered more than 31,000 signatures on the National Assembly’s website.
On Tuesday, Sports Québec executive director Isabelle Ducharme noted that an increasing number of young people are consuming energy drinks.
However, good athletic performance depends on a healthy diet, training, and rest, she emphasized in an interview.
“Young people feel that if they take these drinks, they’ll be able to run longer, stay on the ice longer, and be more alert to perform better.
“But at the end of the day, to perform well, it’s about training, learning the technique, understanding your sport, (…) and getting the rest you need to recover,” she said.
According to her, teens today buy energy drinks “at the checkout” without being aware of the risks.
“At the convenience store, yes, you should have to show ID if you want to buy them,” she said. “You don’t need alcohol, you don’t need drugs, you don’t need energy drinks to ‘score’ a goal in hockey.”
In a document recently sent to The Canadian Press, the Canadian Beverage Association (CBA) emphasizes that its products are subject to “strict requirements established by Health Canada.”
It notes that the regulatory body imposes a caffeine limit on energy drinks, which, incidentally, have been “marketed worldwide for over 30 years.”
For his part, Quebec Solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard pointed out on Tuesday that 86 per cent of Quebecers surveyed support the ban on sales to those under 16.
“The movement to regulate energy drinks among minors isn’t losing steam—it’s gaining momentum! (…) Faced with such a consensus, the government must take action,” he said. “Health Minister Sonia Bélanger has listened, which is good. Now she must commit to concretely protecting the health and safety of our youth.
“Quebec Solidaire is ready to collaborate to quickly pass a law regulating the sale and distribution of energy drinks to those under 16.”
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
