Chechnya bans energy grinks

RUSSIA'S Muslim Chechnya region intends to ban the sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks such as Red Bull to under 18s because they are un-Islamic and dangerous, health officials said yesterday.

Shops in Chechnya can only sell alcohol for a few hours in the morning. "Energy drinks are comparable to beer," said Chechnya's deputy minister of health Rukman Bartiyev.