Senator Claims Red Bull Can Cause Heart Attack

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri has raised serious concerns over the health risks of energy drinks, claiming that Red Bull can cause a heart attack.

Speaking during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Zehri shared a personal experience, saying her father drank Red Bull and had to be rushed to the hospital afterward. She cited the incident while calling for stricter checks on high-caffeine and high-sugar beverages.

The committee, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, discussed the growing consumption of energy drinks among children and teenagers. Members expressed concern that such drinks have become widely used and highly addictive.

The committee was also informed that energy drinks, when mixed with certain easily available syrups, could produce intoxicating effects similar to narcotic substances.

Senator Zehri said excessive sugar intake was contributing to rising diabetes and unhealthy eating habits among children. She had introduced “The Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety (Amendment) Bill, 2025” in the Senate on May 19, 2025.

The bill seeks to regulate the sale and consumption of high-sugar and high-caffeine drinks in Islamabad, especially among children and adolescents. It also aims to promote healthier alternatives and strengthen the implementation of the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Act, 2021.

Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority said the proposed bill overlapped with existing regulations. They suggested that the required amendments should be made within the existing legal framework to avoid duplication.

Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha directed the relevant authorities to submit a detailed briefing on the ingredients used in energy drinks, along with a complete scientific analysis.

The briefing will help the committee consider possible regulatory measures for energy drinks and other high-sugar, high-caffeine beverages.