Parents of Quebec teen who died after energy drink clashed with meds optimistic about proposed youth ban

Quebec is considering a ban on the sale of energy drinks to children under 16, making it the first province in Canada to do so.

The provincial legislature unanimously adopted a motion on May 6 asking the provincial government to regulate the sales of energy drinks for those under the age of 16. Health Minister Sonia Bélanger is expected to provide details on the bill Friday. 

The push is backed by the Zachary Miron Movement, which has been advocating for stricture regulations on energy drinks across the province. 

Zachary Miron died at the age of 15, in January 2024, after drinking a can of Red Bull that interacted with his ADHD medication while on a ski trip. 

A coroner’s report found the combination of caffeine from the energy drink mixed with the medication caused an arrhythmia and led to his sudden death.

“When we received the coroner’s report and read that Zachary’s death was linked to the interaction between his medication… and the consumption of Red Bull, we realized there was a major issue,” said his father, Daniel Miron. 

“We had never been informed about those risks,” he added. “As we researched further, we discovered what you could call a blind spot, something that very few people knew about.”

The upcoming tabling of a bill on energy drinks provoked a strong reaction in the National Assembly on Thursday.

“We continue our work with the Zachary Miron Movement, but at the same time, we’re living through our grief,” said his father. “It’s difficult. Working this hard is exhausting, but we may finally be reaching a milestone, and I hope that’s the case.”

The fizzy caffeinated beverages are indeed a popular alternative to coffee for young people. 

“I see some people drinking energy drinks at like seven in the morning,” 16-year-old Adriana told CityNews. “So, it’s big.”

Christopher Labos, a cardiologist and epidemiologist says younger people have a “lower threshold for toxicity,” making energy drinks problematic.

“Drinking a large amount of energy drinks in a small period of time, that’s what’s potentially contributing to these degrees of overdoses,” Labos said.

A petition, launched in March by Zachary’s parents David Miron and Veronica Martinez, comes amid mounting pressure from parents, health advocates and municipalities who say the products pose serious risks to youth.

“It’s shocking to hear that could happen, because I drink a Monster… pretty often,” said Montreal student Isabella.

Medical experts say caffeine affects children and teens differently than adults. They recommend limiting caffeine intake to between 300 and 400 milligrams per day for adults, or closer to 100 to 200 milligrams for teens.

Health Canada defines energy drinks as pre-packaged beverages containing added caffeine, along with other ingredients such as taurine, B vitamins, minerals or herbal ingredients. They are regulated as a supplemented food, meaning they have ingredients that can pose a risk to health if consumed heavily.