Durbin, Markey Ask Energy Drink Companies to Stop Targeting Kids

WASHINGTONFour Democrats in the U.S. Senate today asked energy drink companies to stop marketing their products to children, label their beverages and shots with the total amount of caffeine and make a number of other commitments that could radically change their business practices.

Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Edward Markey of Massachusetts, John D. Rockefeller of West Virginia and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut made their requests in letters addressed to 17 energy drink companies.

"Energy drink makers have been urging consumers to consume too much of their products too fast and too young," Markey said today in a statement. "We need to ensure that kids and parents are protected from the negative health impacts of these products and are not subject to deceptive marketing practices."

In the letters, the senators asked Arizona Beverage Co LLC, Pepsi Co, Inc., Monster Beverage Corp. and the other 14 companies to make 17 separate commitments. The requested commitments ranged from agreeing not to market energy drinks in K-12 schools to restricting social media access to youngsters to reporting any serious adverse events associated with their products to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

On Capitol Hill and in letters to energy drink companies and regulators, the senators have raised health concerns over energy drinks and shots in the wake of reports that potentially link the products to death and other serious medical problems.

Maureen Beach, a spokeswoman for the American Beverage Association (ABA), said the organization's "members are responsible companies that care about their consumers, especially children and young adults, as demonstrated through existing policies and programs."

"While ABA did not receive the letter, we're always willing to work with elected officials on behalf of our industry to clear up any confusion regarding our products and their safety," she said in an emailed statement.