Quebec pharmacy chain removing energy drinks from shelves to protect young people

MONTREAL – A Quebec City-based pharmacy chain says it will remove energy drinks from its store shelves amid growing calls for the Quebec government to ban the sale of the high-caffeine beverages to children.

The Familiprix chain, which includes 455 affiliated pharmacies in Quebec and New Brunswick, announced Wednesday it is withdrawing energy drinks from its stores in both provinces, saying it won’t sell the beverages “until public authorities establish more regulated access parameters for these products.”

The move comes as Quebec’s order of pharmacists has joined the movement to have the sale of energy drinks restricted to those aged 16 and over.

“The Familiprix network wishes to actively contribute to the collective reflection on the regulation of energy drinks and to the promotion of the safe use of products that may have an impact on health,” the pharmacy chain said in a news release.

Ever since 15-year-old Zachary Miron died after drinking a can of Red Bull while on ADHD medication in 2024, his parents have been pressuring the provincial government to ban energy drinks for children under 16. A coroner’s report said the combination of medication Zachary was taking for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the caffeine from the drink likely caused an arrhythmia that led to his sudden death.

The teen’s parents launched a petition in March and have since received support from parents, teachers, schools, school boards, public health associations and several junior sports leagues as well as Quebec politicians. The petition on the Quebec government’s website, sponsored by opposition party Québec Solidaire, has collected over 35,000 signatures as of Wednesday. 

As well, Familiprix says its affiliated stores will display a message encouraging people picking up medication to tell their pharmacists whether they consume energy drinks. 

The order of pharmacists said on Wednesday it joined the Zachary Miron citizens’ movement and recommended that pharmacist owners and chains remove energy drinks from their stores. 

“The combination of psychostimulants and caffeinated energy drinks poses cardiovascular risks that can lead to serious or even fatal consequences,” the order said in a news release. “Knowing that 23.9 per cent of adolescents and 15.8 per cent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 were prescribed these drugs, this risk is of particular concern.” 

According to the release, the order of pharmacists has been in touch with Quebec Health Minister Sonia Bélanger to “explore solutions to this issue, including awareness-raising measures.”

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On Wednesday afternoon, the Quebec legislature unanimously adopted a motion recognizing the potential health risks of energy drinks. The motion also called for “concrete measures to be taken swiftly to better protect young people under the age of 16, particularly by regulating the sale and distribution of energy drinks.”

Meanwhile, the association representing chain drugstores and banner pharmacies said it will look for ways of informing the public about the health risks of energy beverages, including creating information campaigns and adding warnings near points of sale.

The Canadian Beverages Association, a lobby group that advocates for the non-alcoholic beverage industry, opposes a blanket ban. It argues that energy drinks are already highly regulated by Health Canada, which imposes limits on caffeine content and has made cautionary labels mandatory.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2026.

— With files from Caroline Plante in Quebec City