Suffolk County on Energy Drinks

Two bills aimed at limiting the availability of energy drinks will get first hearings in the Suffolk County Legislature next week, but some health advocates are already lamenting that they do not go far enough.

Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport) has proposed laws to ban energy drink distribution within county parks and beaches, and to ban free samples from being given to minors. The resolutions will be introduced, respectively, at Wednesday’s parks committee and at Thursday’s health committee meetings, with public hearings in front of all lawmakers scheduled for next week.

Limiting samples and prohibiting the beverages in parks, however, were the smaller components of a request made last November to the legislature by Suffolk’s Board of Health. Chiefly, the board urged lawmakers to completely ban the sale of energy drinks to anyone under age 19, citing potential health dangers including elevated heart rates, higher blood pressure, dizziness and even death.

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