Energy drinks not the problem says industry:

A proposed ban on the sale of energy drinks in bars and clubs in Western Australia has been criticised as a "knee jerk reaction that lacks substance" by the Australian Beverages Council. The Council is the peak body representing the Australian energy drink industry. 

“While the industry supports evidence-based measures to curb anti-social behavior and regulations to prevent intoxication, blaming a soft drink that contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of instant coffee (80mg) as being somehow implicated in contributing to problems with late night revelers is absurd” according to the Council’s CEO, Mr Geoff Parker.

“Energy drink sales in licensed venues represent less than 1% of an average bar’s takings. The non-alcoholic beverages industry would contend it’s the other 99% of sales, the majority of which are beer, wine and spirits, that causes problems particularly when combined with the ‘idiot factor’ of a small percentage of patrons. It’s not the mixer that’s the problem.

“In the last year a number of leading global authorities like the UK Government’s Committee on Toxicology and the European Food Safety Authority concluded that the scientific evidence does not support a harmful toxicological or behavioural interaction between caffeine and alcohol. Furthermore, a 2013 survey of over 1,200 Australians aged between 18-34 revealed that only 10% of people drink energy drinks on a night out and not all were mixed with alcohol."

Mr Parker also cited research published in the International Journal of General Medicine last year which compared 6,000 Dutch students who consumed alcohol mixed with energy drinks with those that drank alcohol alone. The study from the University of Utrecht concluded that mixing energy drinks with alcohol does not increase overall alcohol consumption or alcohol-related consequences and that those who mix energy drinks with alcohol consumer less alcohol comprared with those who drink alcohol alone. 

The Beverage Council wants WA authorities to look at the "real cause" of the problem.