Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank all the witnesses for being here.
You are the second group we are hearing from.
I do my groceries and go to the convenience store and have never paid much attention to the section with alcoholic energy drinks.
Sadly, when we learned of the death of the young Athéna Gervais, that is when we noticed the availability of this product, especially at convenience stores. Many young people stop at the convenience store on their way home from school or during their recess or lunch break.
The clerk can check their ID, but we know that when a product is prohibited young people will eventually find a way to get their hands on it. In the case of the young victim, it would seem — and this remains to be proven — this product was stolen.
Let's compare it to other products that are sold at a convenience store. Cigarettes are kept out of sight of the customers and they are not advertised. They are stored behind the counter to deter their use and customer ID is verified, if necessary.
I have a photo in my hand where we see the product in question in relation to other products. In the refrigerator of a convenience store, there is a wide range of products, some that may be less intoxicating depending on the quantity consumed. These products are available to any child that can walk.
I would like to hear from authorities on the matter because there is a mix of federal and provincial jurisdictions. Obviously, the locations where the products are available falls under provincial jurisdiction. I would like to know what measures you expect from the federal government in order to get these products removed from convenience stores and places where young people might get them. I did not get into the marketing aspect, but we could come back to that.
I would like your thoughts on the availability of these products in places where they should not be accessible.
Dr. Morin or Ms. Granger, would you like to take this question?