DOHA: Qatar is studying a proposal to ban advertisements promoting energy drinks, a local Arabic daily reports.
In a related move, Saudi Arabia on Monday banned the sale of energy drinks at government, health and education facilities and outlawed all forms of advertising for the drinks, including the sponsorship of any sporting, social or cultural events by energy drinks companies, said a report posted on alarabiya.net.
Qatar’s decision to ban energy drinks was rejected by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) because WHO permits such drinks, the daily quoted Dr Mohammad Saif Al Kuwari, Assistant Undersecretary for laboratories and standardization at the Ministry of Environment as saying.
WHO has only warned against the excessive use of energy drinks, no products could be banned without the permission of WTO and WHO, he added.
GCC specifications regarding energy drinks require warning on the cans of energy drinks, “not for those under 15 years, pregnant women, breast feeding women and athletes.”
Responding to the decision of Saudi Arabia to ban the energy drinks, citizens demanded the authorities concerned to take immediate action to ban all types of energy drinks in the country.
There is lack of awareness about the health hazards of energy drinks and the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) should launch a campaign to educate people, Ali Salim told the daily.
People in the European countries are fully aware about risk of energy drinks, however in the GCC states and other Arab countries, what people know is that they are alcohol free, he added.
Energy drinks are commonly used by youngsters during parties and picnics and it they have become part of their lifestyle, said Imad Al Hamad
People are deceived by the advertisement hype about energy drinks that they are healthy, boost sexual power, enhance the concentration and make people more active encouraged the people to take it.
The Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning had launched an awareness drive on the risk of energy drinks several years ago, said Abdullah Ali Barakat. The campaign encouraged people to use alternative natural drinks and shun the energy drinks.
The Peninsula
