The parents of Zachary Miron, the 15-year-old who died after drinking a can of Red Bull, left a meeting with Quebec Health and Social Services Minister Sonia Bélanger feeling satisfied on Wednesday. “It was productive, we’re happy with the meeting we had with her, but now we’re expecting action,” said Veronica Martinez, who was accompanied by her partner David Miron and Québec Solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard. Zachary Miron died in the winter of 2024 while skiing in Morin Heights, in the Laurentians, with his class. The combination of his ADHD medication and the energy drink caused an arrhythmia that led to his sudden death. Since then, his parents have been fighting to ban the sale of these drinks to those under 18, or at minimum under 16. Their petition has already collected nearly 15,000 signatures on the National Assembly’s website. “The reason my partner and I are here is to give meaning to the death of our son Zachary. We want to turn what happened to us into a project, because it seems we’re facing a public health crisis,” said David Miron. According to him, more and more teenagers are consuming energy drinks — “sexy,” “colourful,” and “affordable” products found in all types of stores, from corner stores to hardware stores to pharmacies. “Young people are really at risk with this kind of easy access to these drinks,” stressed Martinez, noting that Zachary was in perfect health at the time of his death. “If it can happen to a boy like that, I mean, no one is safe,” she said. The couple also lamented that doctors and pharmacists generally do not warn young patients prescribed psychostimulants for ADHD about the risks. “I genuinely sensed a willingness from Minister Bélanger to act,” said Cliche-Rivard, expressing hope that the minister would launch an initiative mandate allowing various stakeholders to be heard over one or two days. “The recommendation could be that we adopt a bill. (...) We could adopt what might be called the Zachary Miron Act. That could make a difference. (...) All of this, for me, is possible,” he said. “What David and Veronica are telling me is that words are nice, (...) but what they want is to save the next life.” ‘We need to do something’ Approached in the hallways of the National Assembly after the meeting, Bélanger suggested she would take concrete steps before the end of the parliamentary session, scheduled for June 12. She said she was open to the possibility of banning energy drinks for minors. “We’re going to get work underway,” she said. “I’m meeting with the pharmacists’ association in a few days on this topic, and I’m working with the national director of public health, Dr. Caroline Quach Thanh. “We’re going to do everything we can to put together a package of measures. On the legislative side, we have discussions to have. (...) We’re really going to look at outright banning energy drinks for those under 16, and even those under 18. “Right now there are kind of two camps — 16 and 18. I’m going to look at that. On the age question, I’m certain we need to do something, but we’ll have time to come back to that,” she explained. “We won’t let up,” vowed Miron. “We have public support. (...) There was already a poll showing that 77 per cent of the population was in favour of regulating these products. Society is on our side.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 1, 2026.
