Azizia Panda United (APU) has issued a decision banning the sale of energy drinks at all its branches Kingdomwide. The decision took effect on Sunday (Aug. 17).

The initiative, part of its drive to protect community health, comes as an extension to support the government and community efforts aimed to curb health risks posed by the energy drinks to health, which earlier came in a decision passed by the Council of Ministers, dated March 3, 2014, that contained a series of procedures, including ban on advertisement and sale of energy drinks at governmental, educational, health, and sport facilities.

CEO of Azizia Panda United Muffaq Jamal Mansour said the initiative on banning sale of energy drinks comes based on the company’s responsibility toward community and nation, notably in light of the growing global and regional warning over the increased in-taking of energy drinks where a number of countries around the globe have taken strict measures against means of sale to customers.

The CEO of Marketing at Panda, Ahmed Omar Manshi said social responsibility and its programs have become a basic element for the company’s marketing strategy. Panda took a similar decision in 2009 banning the sale of cigarettes in all its branches, he added.

In 2012, Azizia Panda United launched an awareness program termed Be Healthy, aimed to spread health awareness among community members, he said. The initiative of banning energy drink sales comes within the awareness framework, which is sending a clear and direct message to millions of community members on damages that could be caused by such drinks, he added.

APU, a subsidiary of Savola Group and one of the biggest retail giants in the Middle East, operates and manages over 250 branches in Saudi Arabia.