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Maharashtra bans Sting sales within 500 metres of schools
State orders curbs on energy drinks near schools amid child health concerns
MUMBAI: The fizz may still flow, but not outside the school gate. The Maharashtra government has ordered a ban on the sale of Sting and other products deemed intoxicating within a 500-metre radius of schools, stepping up efforts to curb children’s access to energy drinks. The decision was announced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal while responding to concerns raised by BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute over the easy availability of energy drinks around educational institutions.
Zirwal said the state has directed the Food and Drug Administration to implement and strictly enforce the restriction. Schools will also be asked to conduct awareness programmes highlighting the potential health risks associated with the consumption of energy drinks.
The minister said action would be initiated if Sting or similar products are found being sold within the 500-metre prohibited zone, acknowledging concerns over the growing availability of such beverages near schools. The issue comes amid increasing debate over the suitability of energy drinks for children and teenagers, with many products containing relatively high levels of caffeine and sugar.
During the discussion, Pachpute also asked whether the government was considering introducing a separate regulation to prohibit the sale of Sting to individuals below the age of 18. Other legislators, including Rahul Kul and Varun Sardesai, urged the government to tighten controls on the sale of energy drinks to minors and restrict their easy availability around educational institutions.
Zirwal said the state would continue to strengthen both regulatory enforcement and public awareness initiatives to discourage schoolchildren from consuming such beverages.
The announcement comes days after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) intensified scrutiny of the category by issuing notices to several beverage companies, including Red Bull, Monster, PepsiCo’s Sting, Reliance Consumer Products’ Campa Energy and Hell Energy, over the use of the term “energy drink” and health-related claims on product labels.
The latest move signals that regulatory attention is shifting beyond labelling practices to retail access, with Maharashtra becoming one of the first states to target the sale of energy drinks around schools in an effort to protect young consumers.
