Bill Text: NJ AR12 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges United States Food and Drug Administration to regulate energy drinks and conduct education campaign.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-01-29 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR12 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR12-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges United States Food and Drug Administration to regulate energy drinks and conduct education campaign.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Assembly Resolution urging the United States Food and Drug Administration to regulate energy drinks and conduct education campaign.
Whereas, Caffeine is a stimulant and elevates heart rate and blood pressure; and
Whereas, Caffeine initiates uncontrolled neuron firing in the brain, triggering the production of adrenalin; and
Whereas, Adrenalin creates a high, and stimulates a "fight-or-flight" response in humans; and
Whereas, When this adrenal high wears off, a person feels the drop in terms of fatigue, irritability, headache or confusion; and
Whereas, The resulting low often leads individuals to consume more caffeine, continuing the cycle of induced highs and lows; and
Whereas, The repetition of the caffeine cycle results in anxiety, mood swings, sleep disturbance, irritability, depression, and adrenal exhaustion; and
Whereas, Caffeine has the same cyclical effects on the body as other drugs, and
Whereas, A person develops a tolerance to caffeine, and over the years, it takes more and more to get the same result; and
Whereas, Most energy drinks are carbonated drinks that contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar with additional ingredients, such as B vitamins, amino acids, such as taurine, and herbal stimulants, such as guarana; and
Whereas, Many of the ingredients in energy drinks are believed to work synergistically with caffeine to boost its stimulant power; and
Whereas, Taurine appears to play an important role in muscle contraction, especially in the heart, and in the nervous system; and
Whereas, Guarana, a product from South America plants, is more dense in caffeine than coffee beans, and contains theobromine and theophylline; and
Whereas, Theobromine and theophylline are known stimulants, found in coffees and teas; and
Whereas, Energy drinks containing caffeine should not be consumed during exercise, as the caffeine acts as a diuretic and promotes dehydration; and
Whereas, The effect of the combination of ingredients in energy drinks has not been sufficiently studied; and
Whereas, Energy drinks are marketed primarily to people between the ages of 18 and 30 as a stimulant; and
Whereas, It is therefore fitting and proper that the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey urge the United States Food and Drug Administration to educate the public on the hidden dangers of energy drinks and their ingredients; now therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the United States Food and Drug Administration to:
a. Conduct a public education campaign to alert this country's youth and adults about the dangers of caffeine and other stimulants used in energy drinks; and
b. Promulgate rules and regulations concerning the production, sale, and marketing of energy drinks containing caffeine or other stimulants.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Food and Drug Administration to:
· conduct a public education campaign to alert this country's youth and adults about the dangers of caffeine and other stimulants used in energy drinks; and
· promulgate rules and regulations concerning the production, sale, and marketing of energy drinks containing caffeine or other stimulants.
