In a serious move to limit the consumption of high-caffeine beverages among teenagers, the Maharashtra government on Friday declared a comprehensive ban on the sale of high energy drinks like Sting within a 500-metre radius of schools across the state.
Following a query from BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal issued the direction in the State Legislative Assembly.
MLA Vikram Pachpute brought up the matter in the House and emphasized the serious health risks associated with the well-known energy drink. He said that although the beverage conforms with some manufacturing standards, school-age youngsters find it extremely addictive.
He said that although the beverage conforms with some manufacturing standards, school-age youngsters find it extremely addictive.
Pregnant women and children should not consume this beverage, according to a notice on the bottles themselves. Yet, it is being freely sold directly outside school premises. “This energy drink is proving to be more dangerous than alcohol in terms of its long-term impact on children,” Pachpute contended, calling for an urgent prohibition.
Responding to the complaints, FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal admitted that the energy drink was really being widely distributed near educational institutions. He gave the Assembly his word that the state would aggressively enforce a 500-meter limitation zone surrounding schools, outlawing both energy drinks and drugs.
Rahul Kul, a BJP MLA, expanded the issue by calling for a more thorough probe into drug addiction and food adulteration in the vicinity of schools. Kul expressed concern about flavored milk products that include excessive amounts of sugar and unnatural chemical additions, pointing out that drugs are often offered under the pretense of flavored betel leaf.
Minister Zirwal said that a high-level internal investigation of these items is currently underway under the supervision of the FDA. Minister Zirwal stated that authorities have been instructed to inspect vendors within 500 meters of educational institutions, gather food samples for laboratory analysis, and take severe action against objectionable or deceptive advertisements in response to administrative circulars issued on October 3, 2024, and September 17, 2025.
In the written response, the administration explained that although the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 does not specifically define “Energy Drinks,” these products are governed by the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations of 2011 as “Non-Alcoholic Caffeinated Beverages.” Tukaram Mundhe, the recently appointed FDA Commissioner, made a high-profile visit to Vidhan Bhavan at the same time as the legislative discussion. Mundhe, a zero-tolerance administrator who took over the FDA on May 25, has launched a large statewide campaign against pan masala, gutkha, and unclean restaurants.
The FDA has suspended the food safety licenses of six well-known hotels, eateries, bakeries, and clubs in Mumbai for breaking food safety regulations as part of this vigorous enforcement campaign.
