Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin tabled a bill at Province House on Thursday that would make it illegal to sell energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16 in Nova Scotia.
According to the Nova Scotia Liberal caucus, the legislation follows similar action in Quebec, where a ban on sales to people under 16 was adopted in June.
There is currently no age restriction on energy drink sales anywhere in Canada outside Quebec. Health Canada limits caffeinated energy drinks to 180 milligrams of caffeine per serving and requires cautionary labelling, but sets no minimum age of sale.
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Quebec’s National Assembly passed Bill 9, An Act to prevent the harmful effects of energy drinks on the health of young people, on June 11. It was the first jurisdiction in North America to restrict access to energy drinks by age.
The bill was introduced June 5 and passed within six sitting days. The final vote was 103 to one. It received Royal Assent the same day and comes into force six months later.
Under the Quebec law, selling or giving an energy drink to anyone under 16 is prohibited. It is also illegal for a person 16 or older to buy one on behalf of someone younger. Customers are required to show government-issued photo identification.
Several other countries have introduced similar restrictions.
Norway’s ban on sales to people under 16 took effect Jan. 1 and applies to shops, canteens, vending machines, festivals and sporting events.
England launched a 12-week consultation in September 2025 on banning high-caffeine energy drinks for those under 16. Spain announced a similar ban in February. Poland, Romania, Hungary, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania restrict sales to people under 18.
Rankin’s bill is an opposition bill and would require government support to proceed. Most private member’s bills in Nova Scotia do not advance past first reading.
The House of Assembly sat Thursday.
