IN a recent survey the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has found that the so-called energy drinks are causing serious damage to human health. The test result has identified 42 types of energy drinks which contain alcoholic, toxic and other stimulating ingredients exposing consumers to serious health risks. For instance, while 145 milligrams of caffeine’s use is permissible, excessive caffeine was found in the samples of 31 out of 42 tested drinks. 21 drinks have excessive amount of sex stimulants while eight others have excessive alcoholic elements. These drinks are being sold openly in markets across the country. After getting the DNC report the Home Ministry has asked the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration to submit a report with proposals for steps against the companies responsible for marketing the harmful drinks. It should be mentioned that the harmful drinks are being marketed with approval of the concerned authorities using the seals of two government organizations. Reports on the adulterated drinks are too frequent in the media but no one heeds to the matter.
The news regarding the harmful energy drinks is undoubtedly worrying as the young people are the main consumers of the drinks. In fact, the young generation has become obsessed with these drinks and since the drinks are being sold in the open market with permission of the government they do not think even for once about the possible harm which could occur before drinking those drinks. The same is true about the other consumers also. One can naturally ask, how the BSTI and the Directorate of Drug Administration could allow those companies to manufacture and sell the drinks with excessive caffeine, alcoholic and sex-stimulating elements? Should one be blamed if he raises the question of ‘give and take’ between the companies and people responsible on the government’s part? Instead of going to any such significant questions we think it our responsibility to protest against those companies’ destructive attitude and activities. The business persons with support from the government agencies are simply playing with the nation and making money in the name of business and profit.
The government officials, in most cases, are proving themselves callously negligent of doing their duties. By and large, the people are skeptic of that the real culprits would be punished. We on our part will insist that the authorities will take their responsibilities seriously and ensure destruction of the toxic drinks identified. They will be able to prove that corruption cannot protect the offenders at every instance.
