Sedqa's warning on caffeine-based energy drinks

Mathew Randells(sportsman)

Aug 22nd 2009, 14:23

I can just see these energy cans either removed from supermarkets shelves or given away Free or buy 2 and get one free as this articles obviously dropped the clangers on such drinks:, still its about time Maltese supermarkets follow the ideas of Britian and other eu countries in sales techniques by offering Bargains otherwise its NITTO sales.. But as i read below WHY NOW?

Sergio Zammit

Aug 22nd 2009, 02:54

I am no doctor, though I am an ambulance first responder, which means I often have to assist people suffering from all types of intoxications during parties (for example). The caffeine based energy drinks can become dangerous depending on how much of them are taken. There are some which are much more powerful (and dangerous) than others so one has to be very careful. I would strongly advise against taking these drinks to anyone suffering from Diabetes or High Blood Pressure.

On a small note of advice, when you feel tired or exhausted, first make sure you are hydrated well, that means drinks A LOT of water! Secondly try the sports energy drinks as these are much safer, many less sugars and include salts which help you get energy.

Mark Spiteri

Aug 22nd 2009, 00:36

So does coffee and expresso.

Joe Fenech

Aug 21st 2009, 23:39

Jon Apap

I don't think 1 can is going to cause problems.

H Chircop

Aug 21st 2009, 23:22

Apparently these energy drinks are being promoted and given to free of charge. Imagine my surprise when my 74-year old dad told me that he was given an energy drink as part of a promotion when he was exiting City Gate, Valletta!! Not that he was going to drink it, but it is downright irresponsible to be distributing these 'energy' drinks especially to elderly people, considering they might be taking medication, suffering different ailments etc.

Manuel Mangani

Aug 21st 2009, 22:48

sedqa would like to thank all those who reacted to its press-statement. Since its inception the agency has sensitizing the community about the dangers of various substances and behaviour (mainly drugs, alcohol and gambling) - apart from providing treatment to thousands of addicts and their families. With regard to energy drinks, as far back as 1999 we floated the idea that their sale to children and adolescents should be prohibited. The proposal was not particularly well-received at the time.

Since then fresh evidence has emerged which allayed anxieties about some presumed effects of these drinks, and confirmed misgivings about others. All the statements in our press-release can be backed up by scientific research. Normally such references are not included in press-releases, but are available to anyone who would like to peruse them and who would care to contact us on sedqa@sedqa.gov.mt .

It is not only sedqa which has, over the years, drawn attention to some of the dangers associated with energy drinks. A social work colleague, Anthony Girard, has been strenuously campaigning for the regulation of these products on the same lines as alcoholic beverages. Sedqa strongly believes that the state should embrace that idea.

Jon Apap

Aug 21st 2009, 20:05

Can anyone tell me Why after say 8 years of so since Energy Drinks been on the market in nearly all the countries under the sun Now that SEDQA's are telling us its bad for our health, why not then, why now???, why who's upset them, or is it a good marketing move. From my experience i do unfortunitly suffer from H>tension and receive medication, but i must be either lucky or blessed by the Gods, because i feel great, no headaches, no dizziness, alert and good as gold, mind you i only drink just one tin of 8oz. whenever my suger level is low especially in this hot weather, maybe this report is generalizing and not everyone feel the same effect,, i would myself say that drinking too much coffee/tea is much dangerous to Hyp.Tension then this suger drink, besides there are others that are sugar free, so is their any justification for this scare mongering or it the same case as Eggs and many other ingredients that are bad for us, such as breathing diesel fumes from dirty buses etc.,

Joe Fenech

Aug 21st 2009, 18:41

Joseph Schembri Talks on drug by a leading drug specialists in UK, and Germany. Re R Williams - verify on net! It is not a tiny bit of sugar and caffeine : it's 6 teaspoons of caffeine and 20 of sugar every energy drink! Read about the damage energy drinks are causing amongst students in the UK.

Andrea Portelli

Aug 21st 2009, 18:32

I heard that these energy drinks contain slight traces of cocaine and heroin, which apparently is the reason why they make you more "active" Good thing I dont drink that stuff anyway... those energy drinks taste like s***

John Buhagiar

Aug 21st 2009, 17:31

They even contain heroin. This explains all the deaths from energy drinks. They should be banned and traffickers of energy drinks should be prosecuted.

edward bartolo

Aug 21st 2009, 17:15

Too much caffeine can cause bowel dehydration, which leads to constipation, even when one drinks more than enough water.

Joseph Schembri

Aug 21st 2009, 16:59

@Joe Fenech: SEDQA is a government agency not an NGO as you say, but the employees' salaries depend on them appearing to be doing something. I can think of a hundred things that young people are getting hooked on and not tried and tested caffeine. Wow and Robbie Williams had to go onto rehab for addiction to coffee and sugar! Where do you guys get your news from?!

Joseph Schembri

Aug 21st 2009, 16:48

Andrew Azzopardi: I know several people addicted to the caffeine in coffee. So what do you propose that the state do?

Joe Fenech

Aug 21st 2009, 16:19

Why does the gov depend on Sedqa who are not professionals but volunteers?

A specialist would tell you exactly what the harm caused by energy drinks is. I am no medic but I know that these contain high doses of caffeine and sugar, and the combination is both a stimulant and a downer. People like Robbie Williams went to rehab because of an addiction to energy drinks.

Energy drinks have become a top drug problem in the UK and is leading to lack of concentration, hyperactivity, etc.

Andrew Azzopardi

Aug 21st 2009, 16:10

@ Joseph Schembri
i know someone who is addicted to one of these energy drinks. He even had to go to hospital once after drinking a huge amount of this drink.

Joseph Schembri

Aug 21st 2009, 14:55

I think SEDQA is going a little overboard here. After a meal out and half a bottle of wine I drink an espresso, sometimes two. A good espresso contains the same amount of caffeine as a can of these so called energy drinks and obviously it mixes with the alcohol in my stomach.

By the way I have tried one of the best selling energy drinks on the market and the taste is truly horrid. I don't know how people can drink them! I suppose it is just a good example of how good marketing can change perceptions.