Aklavik muscles out energy drinks
Potential health risks prompt ban in municipal buildings
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, September 12, 2016
AKLAVIK
The municipality of Aklavik has recognized the now widely-held belief among many heath professionals that energy drinks pose a potential health risk, particularly to young people.
The hamlet has gone so far as to adopt a resolution - banning the sale of energy drinks in municipal buildings. And it has taken the measure one step further by challenging other communities in the NWT to follow its lead.
Last month, Aklavik adopted a resolution acknowledging that healthy food habits are heavily influenced by the food supply and that municipalities have an important role to play in the development of healthy food environments.
The hamlet also recognized the high rate of obesity and type two diabetes that it says is of serious concern affecting health, quality of life and well-being among the population as well as generating significant social costs.
The resolution also states the territorial government can't stops what the hamlet calls the obesity and diabetes epidemic on its own and must rely on the help and engagement of municipalities.
"The hamlet wishes to take an active role in promoting health and well-being by helping citizens adopt a healthy lifestyle," the resolution states.
"Numerous buildings, including sports and recreation facilities are heavily frequented by children and adolescents. The consumption of energy drinks can carry health risks for some groups in the population, including children and adolescents.
"Like many public health organizations, the hamlet is concerned with the growing consumption of energy drinks by young people."
The resolution goes on to recognize that the consumption of energy drinks while practising a sport can carry health risks and consequently the sale and consumption of energy drinks is irrational in places where physical activities take place.
Fred Behrens, Aklavik's senior administrative officer, said the hamlet is so confident that it is doing the right thing when it comes to banning the sale of energy drinks at municipal facilities that it is challenging other communities in the territory to follow suit.
It was not clear as of press time whether any other NWT communities had taken up Aklavik's challenge by also banning the sale of energy drinks in municipal buildings.
