Connecticut HB 5269: AN ACT CONCERNING WORKING CONDITIONS.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5269
February Session, 2026

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY ENERGY
DRINK CONSUMPTION BY CHILDREN AND REQUIRING CERTAIN
SIGNAGE AT THE POINT OF SALE OF SUCH DRINKS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section, 1
(1) "energy drink" means a soft drink that contains (A) not less than 2
eighty milligrams of caffeine per nine fluid ounces, and (B) 3
methylxanthines, B vitamins, one or more herbal ingredients or an 4
ingredient labeled "energy blend", and (2) "social media" has the same 5
meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes. 6
(b) There is established a working group to (1) study the (A) health 7
risks associated with energy drink consumption by children, and (B) 8
anticipated effects of a prohibition on the sale of energy drinks to 9
children on (i) the state-wide sale of energy drinks, and (ii) public health, 10
and (2) make recommendations for (A) a public awareness campaign 11
concerning such risks that shall include, but need not be limited to, a 12
video recording for publication or broadcast on television and social 13
media, and (B) signage alerting consumers to such risks, to be posted at 14
the point of sale of energy drinks in retail establishments. 15
(c) The Commissioners of Public Health and Consumer Protection 16
shall jointly convene the working group, which shall include, but need 17
not be limited to, the chairpersons and ranking members of the General 18

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Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children and public 19
health, and the following additional members, who shall be selected 20
jointly by the commissioners: (1) An individual with expertise in 21
advertising and marketing, (2) the parent or guardian of a child who 22
experienced adverse health conditions or died due to the consumption 23
of energy drinks, (3) a pediatric cardiologist, (4) a representative of a 24
state-wide chapter of a national association of pediatricians, (5) a 25
representative of a state-wide governing body for interscholastic athletic 26
activities, (6) a representative of a children's hospital in the state, (7) a 27
representative of a state-wide association of food retailers, wholesalers, 28
distributors and service providers, (8) a representative of a 29
manufacturer of energy drinks, and (9) a licensed athletic trainer. The 30
Commissioners of Public Health and Consumer Protection, or the 31
commissioners' designees, shall serve as cochairpersons of the working 32
group. The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 33
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children 34
shall serve as administrative staff of the working group. 35
(d) Not later than November 1, 2026, the cochairpersons of the 36
working group shall submit a report on the working group's findings 37
and recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General 38
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, public 39
health and consumer protection in accordance with the provisions of 40
section 11-4a of the general statutes. 41
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this 42
section, (1) "energy drink" means a soft drink that contains (A) not less 43
than eighty milligrams of caffeine per nine fluid ounces, and (B) 44
methylxanthines, B vitamins, one or more herbal ingredients or an 45
ingredient labeled "energy blend", and (2) "social media" has the same 46
meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes. 47
(b) Not later than December 1, 2026, the Department of Consumer 48
Protection shall develop signage alerting consumers to the health risks 49
associated with energy drink consumption by children and make a 50
printable copy of such signage available on the department's Internet 51

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web site. Such signage shall incorporate the recommendations 52
submitted by the working group established pursuant to section 1 of this 53
act. 54
(c) On and after January 1, 2027, each individual, firm, fiduciary, 55
partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or association 56
engaged in the business of selling energy drinks to retail consumers in 57
the state shall post the signage developed pursuant to subsection (b) of 58
this section in a conspicuous place at the point of sale of such energy 59
drinks. 60
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage New section
Sec. 2 from passage New section

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(b)(2)(B), "signage to be posted at the point of sale of energy
drinks in retail establishments alerting consumers to such risks" was
changed to "signage alerting consumers to such risks, to be posted at the
point of sale of energy drinks in retail establishments" for c