Senators, Health Experts Call Out Energy Drink Manufacturers Over Marketing To Children

The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on energy drinks manufacturers’ marketing targeting minors. Using the report “What’s All the Buzz About?,” Senators Dick Durbin, Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey, and Committee Chairman Jay Rockefellers said they are concerned with marketing of energy drinks to minors, citing the high levels of caffeine and other stimulants included in these beverages and the safety risks that children face from drinking them. Testimonies from executives of the top 3 energy drink manufacturers and experts in pediatric health, toxicology, and food marketing were also included during the hearing. Durbin said the increase in sales of energy drinks has been driven by makers’ marketing of these beverages to children and adolescents. He also compared current energy drinks marketing to cigarette makers’ previous marketing strategies that were ultimately proven to promote smoking among children.