Minors will no longer be allowed to purchase energy drinks, according to a bill recently voted by the Romanian Parliament and entered into force. Stores that do not comply with the law will risk suspension of activity for up to a month.
The legislative act aims to prevent and combat the effects of consuming energy drinks by the population and prohibits the consumption of such drinks by minors.
Therefore, it will constitute an offense “the sale or offering for free, including through vending machines, of energy drinks to minors by units authorized to sell energy drinks (…) which contain various combinations of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, with two or more substances such as caffeine, taurine, carnitine, guarana, glucuronolactone, and other compounds with the effect of stimulating the central nervous system.”
Significant fines or suspension of activity for not complying
According to the new law, the sale or free distribution of energy drinks to minors will be sanctioned with fines of up to 20,000 lei. If the offense takes place within an educational institution, a health institution, or an institution specially designed for the protection of certain categories of people, fines can reach up to 30,000 lei.
In the case of repeated offenses, the measure of suspending the activity of the public establishment for a period ranging from 10 to 30 days is also stipulated into the new law.