Ahead of this autumn's parliamentary elections, the Swedish Grocery Association is presenting a series of political proposals that, according to the organization, will contribute to better public health. One of these is setting an age limit for energy drinks.
Today, there is an industry agreement on a minimum age of 15 that is used by retailers such as Axfood, Coop, ICA and Lidl. However, the lack of legislation creates different conditions, points out Andreas Strömberg, head of business policy at the Swedish Grocery Association.
"We see that there are more channels than grocery stores where energy drinks are sold. When there is no legislation, it creates a lack of clarity. You are not allowed to buy them from us if you are under 15 years old, but you can buy them in a convenience store or other places," he tells TT.
The issue of energy drinks and children and young people has been debated for some time, especially as consumption has risen and the number of brands has increased significantly in recent years.
Earlier this year, the Swedish Food Agency also recommended that people under 16 should not consume more than 70 milligrams of caffeine a day. This is equivalent to about the amount in a small can. This is because higher consumption can lead to sleep problems, palpitations and anxiety, among other things.
However, whether the age limit should be 15, 16 or, for example, 18 years is not decisive, says Andreas Strömberg.
"For us, the most important thing is that there is an age limit that applies regardless of whether you buy an energy drink at a kiosk, at the gym, or from us. Today it looks different depending on where you buy, and that creates a distortion of competition."
