MK Oren Hazan (Likud) is unfazed by the media’s perception of him, he told Army Radio Tuesday morning, less than one day after winning membership on several important Knesset committees, including the House Committee, and the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee.

“Everyone is surprised in view of the roles that I received, the media tried to paint me as inarticulate,” Hazan stated. “They are slowly realizing that there is a Knesset member who comes to work harder.”

“For many years there hasn’t been an MK who stays open and visible [in the public eye], I chose the way I am – to be open and accessible to the public,” he continued. 

Hazan has vowed to legislate a minimum drinking age for energy drinks among other initiatives for young people, as well. 

“There is a long list of laws that I intend to promote,” Hazan stated on Army Radio, The initiatives include, “among other things, learning Arabic from first grade, restricting the age for drinking energy drinks and [..] and changing the Planning and Construction Law.” 

Energy drinks are popular among both teens and students in Israel despite their high caffeine content, some 115 mg/cup – far higher than the 70 mg/cup for the second popular caffeinated drink, instant coffee, according to a report in Yediot Aharonot earlier this week. 

A 2013 study estimated that Israelis spend some 350 million shekels ($90 million) on energy drinks per year, and drink some 140 million cans per year. 

In 2010, the Health Ministry mandated that energy drinks – some of which, such as Blu, are mixed with alcohol – only be sold to adults, in Israel past the age of 18; it also released an advisory notice warning pregnant women and children under age 12 from consuming the drink.