Lithuania fines persons for selling energy drinks to children

Eleven people have been fined in Lithuania for selling or giving energy drinks to minors, the national police announced on Friday.

Nine people have been fined for selling energy drinks to persons under 18 and two people received fines for buying and later giving such drinks to children, Ramunas Matonis, spokesman of Lithuania's police, said in an interview with BNS news agency.

Lithuania last year became the first country in the European Union to ban the selling of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 18. The Baltic state put the ban in place in reaction to research showing how popular energy drinks were among underaged kids.

Supermarket chains claim they control the situation as best they can.

"Sometimes minors ask elder youngsters to buy them energy drinks; our security staff respond," Renata Saulyte, spokeswoman for Maxima LT, was quoted as saying by BNS.

In Lithuania, people face fines of 58 to 116 euro (63 to 126 U.S. dollars) for selling the energy drinks to minors.

Lithuanian police officials responsible for youth affairs implement raids to control the selling of energy drinks to minors on a regular basis.

Numerous studies have pointed out the risks posed by the consumption of energy drinks, especially by adolescents. Heavy consumption of these drinks has been linked to various health problems. The World Health Organisation has warned that increased consumption of energy drinks may pose a danger to public health, especially among young people. Endit