The Quebec health ministry plans to introduce a law that would stop the sale of energy drinks to children under 16, although one politician may delay the process.

魁北克衛生部計劃推出一項法律，禁止向 16 歲以下兒童銷售能量飲料，但一名政治人物可能會延遲該進程。

The reason for this new law is the 2024 death of 15-year-old Zachary Miron. A coroner reported that his death was caused by a heart rhythm problem resulting from the interaction between caffeine and ADHD medication. Consequently, many groups, including health associations, schools, and youth sports leagues, are now supporting the ban. Furthermore, the pharmacy chain Familiprix has already stopped selling these drinks following a recommendation from the provincial order of pharmacists.

推出這項新法律的原因是 2024 年 15 歲的 Zachary Miron 死亡事件。驗屍官報告指出，他的死因是咖啡因與 ADHD 藥物相互作用引起的心律問題。因此，許多團體，包括衛生協會、學校和青少年體育聯賽，目前均支持該禁令。此外，藥局連鎖店 Familiprix 在省藥劑師協會的建議後，已停止銷售此類飲料。

However, the law faces a problem in the legislative process. While three major political parties agree on the ban, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, the only Conservative representative, opposes passing the bill quickly. She asserted that energy drinks only account for 11 per cent of caffeine intake among teenagers, according to the Canadian Beverages Association. Additionally, she argued that the risk is similar to how some medications react poorly with grapefruit, suggesting that a total ban is unnecessary. Because fast-tracking a law requires a unanimous vote, the bill might be delayed until after the October 5 general election, despite Premier Christine Fréchette's goal to finish it by June 12.

然而，該法律在立法過程中遇到問題。雖然三個主要政黨同意禁令，但唯一一名保守黨代表 Maïté Blanchette Vézina 反對快速通過法案。她根據加拿大飲料協會的數據聲稱，能量飲料僅佔青少年咖啡因攝入量的 11%。此外，她認為這種風險類似於某些藥物與葡萄柚反應不佳的情況，因此建議無需全面禁止。由於快速通過法律需要一致通過，儘管省長 Christine Fréchette 的目標是在 6 月 12 日前完成，但法案可能會延遲至 10 月 5 日大選之後。

The bill is currently on hold as the government struggles to reach the total agreement needed to pass the law.

由於政府難以達成通過法律所需的一致同意，該法案目前處於停滯狀態。