Letter: Cheers to Passage of Energy Drink Regs

The writer of this Letter to the Editor is a Stony Brook resident, member and Vice-President of the Suffolk County Board of Health, and a leading advocate for energy drink legislation

Dear Editor: 

I am very pleased that County Executive Steve Bellone signed bills IR 1085-13 and IR 1086-13 on Friday, April 19, 2013, tolimit the availability of energy drinks to minors. These new laws have the potential to protect our children from direct mail advertising and samples from energy drinks here in Suffolk County.    

The measures will further protect our children by prohibiting the sale or distribution of energy drinks by energy drink manufacturers, distributors or retailers at events held at County Parks. These new laws have been a collaborative effort by many over the past two and one half years. The new laws set precedent and have been endorsed by the Suffolk County Board of Health and the Department of Health.    

I applaud Legislator William R. Spencer, M.D. for sponsoring them despite unprecedented lobbying efforts by the beverage industry and others. Many municipalities throughout the country have tried or are in the process of trying to implement similar legislation. Concerns about energy drink consumption by children and adolescents include an increase in emergency room visits due to adverse reactions to energy drinks, continued and expanded marketing to adolescents through video games, sporting events, athlete sponsorships, and product placement, and inconsistent labeling of the drinks.    

Manufacturers’ representatives admit that while many of the energy drink products clearly state directly on the cans “not recommended for children," they cannot or will not state why they have this product warning. Pediatric professionals recommend that energy drinks “are not appropriate for children and adolescents and should never be consumed by children.” (Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate? Pediatrics. 2011;127(6):1182-1189).    

My hope is that Suffolk County, being the first-in-the-nation, can lead the way to ensure that children throughout the country will be protected from this emerging public health threat. I applaud County Executive Bellone for signing these bills into law and for listening to the recommendations of the Board of Health, the Commissioner of Health, the Department of Health, and the legislators who voted for these bills. Suffolk County has once again become a leader in protecting the public and its children from an emerging public health threat.     

Sincerely, 
Tracy Trypuc, RN, BSN 
Candidate, MPH, MBA ‘14 
Stony Brook University