Maine: Newell Augur

AUGUSTA, Maine — The sale of high-caffeine “energy drinks” to minors could be outlawed if a proposal under consideration this week by Maine lawmakers is approved. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Peggy Pendleton, D-Scarborough, says consuming the sodalike drinks can cause health problems in young people, but a spokesman for the Maine Beverage Association argued that an age limit is unnecessary and unenforceable.

Other bills heard on Wednesday before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee include a proposal to prohibit smoking on Maine’s state park beaches and another to routinely include a patient’s HIV status as part of medical information exchanged between health care providers.

Fed Up with Taxes, the group behind the proposed people's veto of the beer, wine and soda tax, has made protecting Maine businesses a key theme in its campaign this fall.

However, a review of the political action committee's finance reports show that it has spent a small proportion of its budget on campaign services from Maine businesses.

The group is backing Question 1, which would repeal the taxes created at the end of this year's legislative session to fund Dirigo, the state's health insurance program.