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Illegally Unregulated Sale of Energy Products Targeting Children in Kazakhstan

Restrictions on selling energy drinks to minors imposed in nearby nations.

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4 min read

Illegally Unregulated Sale of Energy Products Targeting Children in Kazakhstan

Swig a can filled with caffeine, sugar, water, taurine, and a smidgen of vitamins - that's the gist of an energy drink. The price? Varies, from a budget-friendly 200 to a pricier 2000 tenge, depending on the drink's size and the brand.

Once a morning pick-me-up for some Kazakhstani coffee enthusiasts, particularly teenagers, energy drinks have become a study companion for many students, tutoring attendees, and those juggling additional classes. The sweet, fizzy refreshment is everywhere, making it an easy go-to.

But society isn't all cheers. The discussion stirs over whether a few extra hours of alertness is worth potential health risks. What do doctors suggest?

President's Concern

According to a survey by the National Center for Public Health (NCPH), 3% of minors imbibe energy drinks daily, and 17.5% consume them one to five times a week. Over 8,500 schoolchildren from 20 regions of Kazakhstan participated in this study.

In November 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev raised the concern of banning the sale of energy drinks to minors. Although drugs and electronic cigarettes are prohibited by law, there are no restrictions on energy drinks in Kazakhstan yet. Yet, a warning plastered on energy drinks advises against their consumption by those under 18.

Neighboring Nations Lead the Way

Take a step to the east, and you'll find Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have already implemented bans on the sale of energy drinks to minors. Meanwhile, in Kyrgyzstan, authorities are pushing for a complete ban on the import and sale of such drinks. Go further north to Turkmenistan, and energy drinks are vanished from the scene completely.

Closer to home, Russia doesn't ban the sale of energy drinks to minors nationwide, but some regional authorities have restricted its purchase to those aged 18 and above. In Azerbaijan and Belarus, regional restrictions on selling energy drinks to minors are in place. Interestingly, these drinks can only be bought in pharmacies in countries like France, Denmark, and Norway.

Don't Blame Energy Drinks, but Quantity

As per Kumarhan Kumarov, energy drinks stimulate brain activity, potentially causing side effects like insomnia, heightened blood pressure and pulse, arrhythmias, and liver problems.

Yet, Dr. Kenta Gintautas-Yuzas Albino argues that energy drinks aren't much worse than regular sweetened, carbonated drinks, given one understands their limits. The root of the problem lies in excessive consumption.

Caffeine: the Drive of Energy Drinks

Caffeine is present not only in coffee but also in tea, chocolate, and energy drinks. Dr. Kenta Gintautas-Yuzas Albino highlights that caffeine in energy drinks is used to boost energy and alertness, aiding in physical and mental performance. Drivers, particularly long-distance ones, as well as students, often turn to these drinks to keep them alert during long study sessions or late-night trips.

However, the doctor warns that energy drinks deplete the body's energy reserves and nervous system, potentially leading to insomnia, as sleep is essential for energy replenishment.

There are specific guidelines for caffeine intake:

  • Adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day, equivalent to the amount in two cups of regular instant coffee.
  • Pregnant women should be cautious with their intake, limiting it to 200 mg per day.
  • Children under 12 should consume no more than 50-100 mg of caffeine daily.
  • Teenagers should calculate their intake based on their weight - 2.5 mg per kg.

It's advisable to take a four to five-hour break between energy drinks, as caffeine takes around this amount of time to be eliminated from the body. Avoid throwing them back in the morning, as your body has already restored its energy reserves after sleep.

Overindulging can strain the cardiovascular and urinary systems, potentially causing gastritis, increasing the risk of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, worsening hypertension, and adversely affecting children with hyperactivity.

Seriously considering the ban

While a ban might seem extreme, fears about the potential health risks associated with energy drinks, particularly among teenagers, cannot be ignored. It's important to educate ourselves and our youth about the dangers of overindulgence and take comprehensive measures, including involvement from parents, to ensure their health and well-being.

  1. Health-and-wellness advocates warn about the potential risks of energy drinks, raising concerns over their consumption, especially among teenagers.
  2. In a health-conscious society, debates persist on whether the potential benefits of increased alertness outweigh the health risks of energy drinks.
  3. Online-education platforms, fitness-and-exercise classes, and parenting seminars have become regular consumers of energy drinks due to their quick, energizing effects.
  4. The partnership between energy drinks and academic success has sparked questions about the implications on family-health and mental-health, given the high caffeine content.
  5. As education-and-self-development evolves, the broader health implications of energy drinks amidst the phenomena of late-night studying and long-distance commuting gain significance.
  6. Policymakers consider the potential impact of an energy-drinks ban on career-development, productivity, and the job-search process in various sectors.
  7. The limited research on the long-term effects of energy drinks calls for rigorous studies on their influence on general-news, crime-and-justice, and war-and-conflicts.
  8. Beyond the buzz, energy drinks have crept into the daily lives of many, with students, drivers, and career professionals relying on them to stay awake and focused.
  9. The global migration of cultures has fueled varying policies on energy-drink sales to minors across countries like Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
  10. Lifelong-learners grapple with the question of whether energy drinks aid or hinder personal-growth, productivity, and goal-setting in the midst of their busy schedules and hectic lifestyles.
  11. Energy drinks have become a conundrum in the realm of nutrition, leaving health professionals to weigh the advantages of short-term energy boosts against the risks of chronic health issues.
  12. As the marketing sector targets young audiences with flashy ads, many schools take on the responsibility of educating students on the dangers of energy-drink addiction and its impact on learning, goal-setting, and general well-being.
  13. The mindfulness movement promotes heightened awareness of our physical and mental states, compelling individuals to examine their reliance on energy drinks and question whether they are truly contributing to overall happiness and wellness.
  14. In the context of car-accidents and fires, it's crucial to address the impact of energy drinks on reaction times, attention spans, and response abilities, leading to safer driving and living conditions.
  15. With policy-and-legislation remaining divided over the banning of energy drinks, dialogue within the public health community and among consumers continues, focusing on finding a balance between indulgence and long-term health.
Minors are prohibited from consuming energy drinks in nearby nations.

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