Health Canada to meet provinces to discuss sale of sugary, high-alcohol drinks

OTTAWA — Health Canada wants to reduce the alcohol content and the size of the sugary, high-alcohol drinks like those sold under the FCKD UP and Four Loko brands.

Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor is launching consultations aimed at amending federal food and drug regulations to restrict the content of sweetened beverages whose alcohol content is between seven per cent and 12 per cent.

It’s seeking feedback from the industry and all interested parties by May 3.

Health Canada will also convene a meeting with provincial and territorial governments in the coming weeks  to discuss issues like advertising, marketing and labelling to reduce the risks caused by the products.

The move comes about three weeks after the death of Athena Gervais, a 14-year-old Quebec girl who reportedly consumed FCKD UP with an alcohol content of 11.9 per cent.

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The Quebec government has already announced it will forbid the sale of the sweetened drinks in convenience and grocery stores.

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The Canadian Press