LONDON: Come November and Lithuania will become the first country in the world to ban the sale of energy drinks to minors.

Under the new law which is similar to how alcohol is served across the world, retailers and bartenders selling energy drinks will have to mandatorily ask young buyers for identification certifying that they aren’t below the age of 18.

Buying energy drinks on behalf of underage consumers will also be illegal.

According to the definition of an energy drink in Lithuania, it is any non-alcoholic beverages which contain more than 150 mg per liter of caffeine or more than 150 mg liter of caffeine.

Beverages which contain central nervous system stimulant such as glucuronlacton, inositol, guaranin, ginsenoside, ginkgo extract or taurine will also come under the purview of being an energy drink.

WHO on Wednesday termed energy drinks as a significant public health problem if their use among young people isn’t addressed.

WHO also called for a cap on caffeine levels and restrictions on their sale and marketing.

In 2006, almost 500 new brands of energy drinks were released worldwide. The energy drink industry is booming, with sales of energy drinks estimated to be over $12.5 billion in 2012, an increase of 60% from 2008 to 2012.

In 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) commissioned a study to gather consumption data for energy drinks in 16 countries of the European Union. They found that 68% of adolescents (aged 10–18 years old), 30% of adults, and 18% of children consumed energy drinks. Among adolescents, consumption varied from 48% in Greece to 82% in the Czech Republic. Among children, consumption varied from 6% in Hungary to 40% in the Czech Republic.

WHO said Lithuania will prove to be an example for all other European Countries.