(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanon will ban the import, manufacture, and marketing of energy drinks containing alcohol in the country, after the health minister urged the economy minister to take immediate action.
Health Minister Wael Abu Faour sent a note to Economy Minister Alain Hakim asking him to commit to his predecessor’s decision regarding the beverages on Friday.
The ban on the alcoholic energy drinks was originally announced by former Economy Minister Nicholas Nahas and Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil in February and was set to take effect in June.
After many traders filed petitions calling to extend the deadline by three months, the Economy Ministry forwarded the requests to the Health Ministry who did not reply, according to Friday’s statement.
However, the Economy Ministry has decided to go ahead and implement the ban, on the basis of research showing the mixture of alcohol and the stimulants in the energy drinks has serious side effects on the consumer’s health.
This decision does not affect the purchase or mixture of drinks at local bars or pubs. Consumers may also mix their own beverages at home without violating the law.
The ban includes, but is not limited to, alcoholic beverages containing the common stimulants caffeine and taurine. According to the decree, the decision was made based on a suggestion by a committee acting with the Consumer Protection Association.