WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hold a hearing on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. titled, “Energy Drinks: Exploring Concerns About Marketing to Youth”. Chairman Rockefeller is interested in learning more about the concerns expressed by pediatricians and other public health experts about the health risks energy drinks could pose to children and teenagers. Among the leading voices concerned about the marketing of energy drinks to kids is the American Medical Association (AMA). Last month, the organization voted to support a ban on the marketing of energy drinks to children and teens under the age of 18.
Rockefeller began to examine the marketing practices of energy companies last month when he sent letters to four leading energy drink companies to gather information about the way they are marketing energy drinks, particularly to children and teens. The hearing will take a closer look at marketing practices energy companies are using to reach kids, like promoting young teen athletes and featuring them on social media sites. The hearing will also explore whether energy drink companies are taking into account in their marketing efforts the health concerns that public health experts have raised about the dangers of youth consumption of energy drinks.
The hearing will also present an opportunity to review an April report, released by Senators Durbin, Blumenthal, and Markey, that revealed evidence of energy drink marketing practices that the report found target teens.
ENERGY DRINKS: EXPLORING CONCERNS ABOUT MARKETING TO YOUTH Full Committee Hearing
Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Hearing Start Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: 253 Russell Senate Office Building
Please note the hearing will be webcast live via the Senate Commerce Committee website. Refresh the Commerce Committee homepage 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to automatically begin streaming the webcast.
Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service, including closed captioning service for webcast hearings, should call 202-224-0411 at least three business days in advance of the hearing date.
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