Turkey bans energy drink sales for under-18s

ANKARA

The Turkish Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry has banned the sale of energy drinks for those under the age of 18, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on June 30. 

Such products will have to be sold with a tag to be read easily, saying: “[It] should not be consumed together with alcohol, or mixed with it.”

“It is not recommended for children, those under the age of 18, elderly, diabetics, those with high blood pressure, or those who are pregnant and breastfeeding, people with metabolism-related illnesses, those with renal failure, and those sensitive to caffeine. It is not a sports drink, therefore should not be consumed prior to, during, or after intense physical activity. The consumption of more than 500 milligrams of it per day is not recommended,” the product will also have on its tag. 

In line with an announcement released on the Official Gazette, sports facilities, school cafeterias, and hospitals will no longer be able to supply energy drinks or advertise them, but the official statement does not impose a ban on sports drinks.

Advertisements of the energy drinks in public spaces will also be banned in direct and indirect ways. 

The energy drink will not be examined within the context of food stuffs intended for particular nutritional uses. It will also be banned from having more than 150 milligrams of caffeine, inositol with more than 100 milligrams, glucuronolactone with more than 20 milligrams, and taurine with more than 800 milligrams.

If the energy drink is to be sold as a “fruit energy drink,” then its fruit quantity will not be less than four percent for fizzy ones, and not less than 10 percent for non-fizzy ones.