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Russia’s former sanitary doctor calls to ban energy drinks

He was categorically against using such drinks to stay cheerful

Photo ITAR-TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov

Photo ITAR-TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov

MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass) - Russian prime minister’s aide Gennady Onishchenko, who until recently was Russia’s chief sanitary doctor and head of the consumer rights protection authority (Rospotrebnadzor), has called to ban energy drinks, especially alcohol-based energy drinks, as harmful to people’s health.

“Energy drinks are an evil,” he said on Thursday in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station. “Such drinks were invented 15-20 years ago and now are flooding the Russian market. It is an element of the youth subculture, along with alcohol and certain nacrotizers. It is awful and such drinks must be banned in our country.”

He was categorically against using such drinks to stay cheerful. “All you need to be cheerful is to have a good night’s sleep, to lead a healthy life, to go in for sports, not to catch diseases and to dress according to season,” he added.

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