Quebec is considering banning the sale of energy drinks to minors under the age of 16.

Health Minister Sonia Bélanger says she’s reflecting on the idea after meeting the family of a 15-year-old who died after drinking Red Bull.

David Miron and Veronica Martinez are the parents of 15-year-old Zachary Miron. After speaking with Bélanger, they feel they’re one step closer to paying a meaningful tribute to their late son.

“What we’re living right now, nobody should have to go through that,” Martinez told reporters at the National Assembly

Zachary was on a school ski trip at Morin Heights in 2024 when he drank a Red Bull after having taken medication that morning to treat his ADHD.

“They bought a Red Bull from the vending machine in the cafeteria, so he drank the Red Bull, and it was in the chair lift that his heart stopped. That was the end,” she explained.

The parents said their son was perfectly healthy and wouldn’t have known that the energy drink could react badly with his medication.

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“If this kind of situation can happen to a boy like that, I mean, nobody is safe. That’s why we’re here,” said Martinez.

The late teen’s parents believe the beverages should be banned for people under 18.

Their official National Assembly petition demanding the province ban the sale of energy drinks to minors has garnered about 15,000 signatures. It’s sponsored by Quebec Solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, who joined them in their meeting with the health minister.

“I really felt she was moved and touched by their testimony and I felt like she came with options in her hand,” said Cliche-Rivard.

The petition points out that England, Norway, Latvia and Lithuania have all voted to ban the sale of energy drinks to minors, and that Quebec Public Health officials are in favour of the idea.

“We’re really going to look into the possibility of completely banning energy drinks starting at age 16, and maybe even from age 18,” Belanger said.

The minister says she is meeting with experts in the coming days to discuss the matter.

“I fundamentally personally believe, and this is what the science is saying as well, that 18 should be the appropriate age,” said Cliche-Rivard.

The boy’s parents and Cliche-Rivard hope a transpartisan bill to bring forth the ban can be created and passed before the end of the current National Assembly session.