Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Stimulant Drinks.

Ms O'Sullivan

The background to this Adjournment debate is tragic and heartbreaking. Ross Cooney was a bright dedicated student and sportsman. Last November, Ross collapsed during a basketball tournament at the National Arena in Tallaght and, despite the best efforts of the staff at Tallaght Hospital, they failed to resuscitate him.

Yesterday the jury at the inquest into the death of Ross Cooney called for research into the health effects of stimulant drinks. During the inquest, evidence was given that Ross had consumed between two and three cans of Red Bull in advance of the basketball tournament. No evidence was found that the drink was responsible for Ross Cooney's death. However, the jury made a sensible and reasonable call for research. It is a call I support and I hope the Minister of State will be in a position to indicate that research will be conducted.

In recent years there has been a phenomenal growth in energy drink consumption in Ireland. Sales of energy and sports drinks will exceed £100 million this year on the Irish market. This represents an 83% increase since 1997. Zenith International, an independent research consultancy which identifies trends in the drinks market, calculates that energy and sports drinks will account for 15% of all soft drink sales in Ireland this year. Much of this growth can be attributed to energy stimulant drinks which have appeared on the market in recent years.

It is time there was a balanced analysis of the effect of these drinks. One of the strongest marketing points of stimulant drinks is the amount of caffeine and taurine they contain. Surely it is important to establish upper limits of the safe amounts of these stimulants which a person can consume within a certain period. In addition, does consumption of such significant amounts of stimulants have an effect on a person taking certain prescription drugs? These are just some of the questions which should be examined in a calm and objective fashion. On foot of findings established by such research, manufacturers should be required to include warning or advisory information on the packaging and labelling if the research produces genuine grounds for concern. This is a common practice and advisory information is included on packaging for many health products available over the counter.

Food safety is an increasingly important matter of public policy. It is essential that consumers are assured that the food and drink they consume is healthy and safe. A programme of research into stimulant drinks, perhaps co-ordinated with our EU colleagues, would be of immense value. It would be in the interests of both the consumers and manufacturers.

The Cooney family have endured an insufferable loss. They bravely faced the public and the media interest surrounding the inquest into Ross's death. I sincerely hope the family can now be left in peace to come to terms with the tragedy that befell them. The parents of Ross Cooney have welcomed the jury's recommendation that research be conducted. I hope the Minister of State is in a position to indicate such research will be initiated.

Dr. Moffat

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this important issue.

Energy drink is a commercial term used to describe beverages containing stimulants. It is not a recognised drinks category within the European Union. Red Bull contains three active ingredients, caffeine, glucuronolactone and taurine. In 1999, the European Scientific Committee on Food was asked by the European Commission for an opinion on caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone as constituents of so-called energy drinks.

This committee, which carries out risk assessment on foodstuffs in Europe, reached a number of conclusions in their opinion. These were based on an assumed maximum intake level of 0.5 litre of energy drink per day. They concluded that the contribution of energy drinks to overall caffeine intake is not a matter of concern for non-pregnant adults. Moderation of caffeine intake, from whatever source, is advisable during pregnancy. Substitution of energy drinks for normal beverages by children could lead to increased caffeine levels in this group. This could result in transient behavioural changes such as arousal, irritability, nervousness or anxiety. The interaction of the constituents of energy drinks has not been well studied, nor has the interaction of caffeine and taurine with alcohol, particularly under conditions of exercise and consequent dehydration through sweating. The safety-in-use of taurine and glucuronolactone as delivered in energy drinks has not been established. Further studies will be required. This opinion makes it clear that scientific data was not available to answer all questions about the safety of these energy drinks under all circumstances of usage.

It is important that because energy drinks are on sale throughout Europe, their safety is evaluated on a European level. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is responsible for the enforcement of food safety law in Ireland and, under current law, energy drinks are legally on sale in this country. I am aware that in the European Commission's White Paper on Safety, there is a proposal to draft legislation controlling foods intended for intense muscular effort. The proposed completion date for this is December 2001.

At this point it is unclear whether this legislation will cover energy drinks like Red Bull or if it would be restricted to more traditional high sugar drinks. I will ensure that my department and the FSAI, when servicing the relevant working group in developing this draft legislation in Brussels, will strive to have this legislation cover such energy drinks.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I assure the House that I, as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, propose, with my relevant colleagues in Government, to continue to actively monitor the situation.