Committee on Health and Environmental Protection
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, highly caffeinated "energy drinks" like Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster, Full Throttle and 5 Hour Energy are popular among teenagers and young adults; and
WHEREAS, these unregulated beverages are sold side by side with sodas and fruit juices in gas stations, rest stops, pharmacies and grocery stores; and
WHEREAS, researchers found that these energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and warned of dangerous, even life threatening, effects on blood pressure, heart rate and brain function; and
WHEREAS, a 2010 Mayo article entitled "Energy Beverages: Content and Safety" cited "teens and young adults, both athletes and non-athletes, are consuming energy beverages at an alarming rate, we need to determine whether long-term use of energy beverages by this population will translate into effects later"; and
WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration has received reports that link at least five deaths since 2009 to a beverage called "Monster Energy"; and
WHEREAS, the most visible death happened in December 2011 when a 14 year old girl died suddenly from a heart arrhythmia that occurred when she drank two "Monster Energy" drinks over the course of two days; and
WHEREAS, manufacturers label these beverages as a "dietary supplement" which allows them to avoid federal regulation unlike the soda and juice industries; and
WHEREAS, producers of energy drinks are able to make unsubstantiated claims such as "enhances athletic performance" and "increases caloric burn and mental sharpness"; and
WHEREAS, these energy drinks fail to adequately warn of the inherent risks of ingesting concentrated amounts of caffeine; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
SECTION 1. The above recitals are expressly incorporated herein and made part hereof as though fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. Chapter 9-102 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by creating a new Section 8...
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