Quebec has become the first jurisdiction in North America to ban the sale of energy drinks to youth. Bill 9 is not without its detractors, and we will see if young people find ways to get around the age ban. But from a medical standpoint, these beverages have a small but real risk that parents and teenagers have been ignoring for far too long.

Make no mistake, these drinks are very popular. If you do not regularly drink them you might think they are a niche indulgence of young people and fitness enthusiasts. But the global market for energy drinks in 2025 was estimated at US$82.5 billion and is expected to top $158.53 billion by 2033. While this is still a sliver of the market share enjoyed by soft drinks, the rapid growth in popularity of energy drinks is a real cause for concern.

First off, energy drinks contain a lot of sugar, and in an era of rising childhood obesity, this in and of itself poses significant public health problems. Energy drinks have as much and sometimes more sugar in them than popular soft drinks. Some low-sugar options exist, but usually you are getting roughly 40 to 50 grams of sugar per can, which already surpasses the........

© Montreal Gazette