Energy drinks are the direct cause for the high teenage pregnancies recorded in Uganda, according to the countries State Minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo.
Alleging that some young people have been deceived with claims of the drink enhancing sexual prowess, she added that teenagers take these drinks with the hope of increasing their libido.
Mutuuzo said;
“There are a lot of energy drinks in the market these days that deceive our people that they will improve their manpower. This makes me wonder, what do our young people need manpower for? Are they planning to go to war?
“Once the young men get intoxicated with these drinks, they don’t spare our young girls.”
The Minister also accused manufacturers of using attractive brand names for their drinks to lure young people to consume their products. Mutuuzo called on Uganda’s National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to intervene and regulate the number of energy drinks being sold in the Ugandan market.
She added;
“Majority of these energy drinks have been baptized with delicious names like Mukama Nayamba, Aleluya, Praise God, and nowadays you see born again people rushing for these drinks.”
