Red Bull gives Ed Burke grief, not wings.
The City of Chicago's most powerful alderman Thursday proposed a blanket ban on energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, Full Throttle, 5-hour Energy and others.
The news was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times' Fran Spielman.
"No person shall sell, give away, barter, exchange or otherwise furnish any energy drink,” reads the language in his proposed ordinance. The legislation would include a $100 to $500 fine for each offense.
Burke not only wants to ban their sale in Chicago, but their distribution as well. And not just for minors like Health Committee Chairman George Cardenas proposed last month.
"Kids are drinking more and more of them. And so Chicago ought to be on the forefront of public awareness and education about the potential dangers of these products," he told NBC Chicago on Thursday evening.
The energy drinks, considered boom-town for soft drink makers who have seen increasing profits from that segment of the beverage industry, have raised health concerns because many combine stimulants like Taurine and Guarana with caffeine.
Burke's ordinance sites FDA data claiming that at least 5 deaths since 2009 can be attributed to Monster Energy drink.
