Why Banning Energy Drinks And Not Bananas?

On May 15, the municipality of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, near Montreal, unveiled a policy to promote healthy eating.

When it comes to education, no one can be against that. There is always room for improvement.

The problem is that at the heart of this policy is a regulation prohibiting the supply, promotion, donation or sale of energy drinks in its parks and green spaces, particularly during activities and festivals.

Promoting versus prohibiting … these are two very different approaches. The first one respects the intelligence of people, the other one denies it.

In the face of criticism from its citizens, the city published some additional clarifications.

• Only parks and green spaces owned by the City are subject to the regulation (not depanneurs and groceries… fortunately!);

• It is not a matter of “telling people what to drink or eat” (although this is exactly what they do!);

• It is believed that energy drinks are “trivialized” (meaning what?) and that their consumption “is worrysome” … (how so and so what?);

• The city recalls the importance to inform consumers about the effects of energy drinks (but prohibiting is not informing: it is acting against the freedom of choice).

The city adds that unlike alcohol and tobacco, energy drinks are not subject to any regulations, hence the need to act.

But as far as we know, there is no regulation for bananas, chewing gum and chocolate bars … does the city have to regulate that too?

Also, are not people smart enough to make their own choices? If they can make children, vote, buy a house and embark on a career, they are probably wise enough to decide for themselves which fluids they shall absorb, don’t you think?

The most delusional aspect of this argument is when the city says it’s proud of having been supported “several times for its initiative by different organizations”, citing two, the Association pour la santé publique du Québec (ASPQ) and the Coalition Poids.

But these two organizations are in fact just one single group, sharing the same address and the same funding that is largely provided by the government and your taxes.

A single group with several ramifications whose radical agenda invariably involves limiting people’s freedom of choice, whether it be taxing sugary drinks, prohibiting tobacco, banning energy drinks, entrusting the distribution of cannabis to a Crown corporation, etc.

Nice influence, really! Such an enlightened choice. We are quite impressed.

Finally, for those still worry about energy drinks, here is the main conclusion of an extensive 84-page study published in 2010 by the National Institute of Public Health on energy drinks:

According to the data consulted, moderate or occasional consumption of energy drinks appears to pose little risk to healthy adults. On the other hand, excessive consumption of energy drinks and concomitant use with alcohol or other drugs could cause adverse health effects due to their caffeine content.

In other words, there is no problem in consuming it normally. But to take 20 in a row through binge drinking and drugs and the like is another story. Really … no one could figure this out, right?

But hey… isn’t it the same for bananas? What is the city waiting for to ban them also in its parks and festivals???