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Posted: 2023-06-23 01:41:20

A small town in WA which stopped the sale of energy-drinks to people under 18 has vowed to keep the ban in place, as other communities look to follow suit.

Retailers in the South West town of Bridgetown, 260km south-east of Perth, banned the sale of energy drinks to young people earlier this year, as part of Telethon Kids Institute research project.

The results of the trial are expected to come out at the end of the year.

Bridgetown GP Sarah Youngson said the town would continue to enforce the ban.

"There's been very little pushback," she said.

"Young people have gone and purchased other drinks like water, which is great.

"We discussed the future of the ban and there was absolute unanimous support for the ban to continue."

A can of energy drink. ()

Dr Youngson, who spearheaded the project, said initial results were promising.

"Prior to the ban energy drink consumption was something that I would always flag with young people, especially if they were presenting with symptoms of anxiety and insomnia.

"Now it's something I don't need to ask about.

"It's one of the things we don't need to worry about in our community to a certain extent.

"[And] It's something any community can do."

Bridgetown GP Sarah Youngson says she worries less about the town's young people with the ban in place.()

Others to follow

The Telethon Kids Institute has been approached by other WA towns wanting to put their own restrictions on energy drinks in place.

Bridgetown cafe owner Laurel Keenan, who participated in the ban, said it hadn't brought about too many issues.

"It hasn’t had a major impact really for me but at the end of the day it’s not about dollars and cents it’s about the health and welfare of our kids.

"I think there was a little bit of baulking [from the local children.]

She said she would like to see the ban implemented nation-wide.

"We don’t sell them cigarettes, we don’t sell them alcohol because it’s bad for their health ... and so is this stuff."

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