Convenience Industry Council of Canada disappointed by Quebec’s rushed energy drink ban
The Convenience Industry Council of Canada (CICC) expressed that they are "deeply disappointed" by the Quebec National Assembly’s passage of legislation banning the sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16. The association responded with the following press release on Friday, June 12.
While the convenience industry shares the goal of protecting young people — and recognizes the genuine concern behind this legislation — CICC believes the government has chosen a reactionary retail ban over the evidence-based, education-first approach this issue demands.
“As an industry who are the gate keepers of these products on our shelves, we believe there is a need for a serious, meaningful conversation about energy drink consumption among not just young people, but all individuals who are on certain medications who should know about the potential negative interaction,” said Michel Gadbois, VP Quebec. “By jumping straight to an outright retail ban, the government has skipped the most vital step: public education.
Banning a product doesn’t educate a teenager. It just makes that product harder to find and more tempting.”
CICC also raised serious concerns about how the legislation was developed, and without much thought regarding implementation. With only 28 health inspectors in the entire province, how will this be enforced?
“This bill was drafted without meaningful stakeholder consultation and ignores the operational realities of the retail sector,” Gadbois added. “Traditional convenience retailers have decades of rigorous training and experience handling age-restricted products. Much of the broader retail ecosystem simply isn’t equipped to meet this mandate. Imposing an age-gate on one type of caffeinated beverage creates an unworkable situation for quick-service retail and self-checkout, found in many dollar stores, with terminals that have no human age-verification in place. The result will be immediate friction at the point of sale, penalties for the businesses with the strongest compliance records, and the development of an illicit market.”
CICC is urging the government to refocus on the root causes of harm — including widespread public education about how caffeine can interact with common medications. We further call for broad stakeholder consultation so that the solution addresses the actual problem.
“Real public safety means addressing the root cause, not just the shelf,” said Gadbois. “Doctors, pharmacists and parents all have a role to play in educating all young people taking these medications, not just those under 16. Yet, the government essentially forced that responsibility to the clerk at the point of sale in more than 5,400 Quebec depanneurs.”
