Energy drink maker Red Bull hit by EU antitrust probe

This photograph shows Red Bull drink cans at the Red Bull Formula One team motorhome, in Hockenheim, on July 18, 2008.[AFP]

The EU on Thursday announced a probe into energy drink maker Red Bull over suspicions the Austrian company abused its dominant market position and potentially forced Europeans to pay higher prices.

The European Commission said it was concerned Red Bull gave "monetary and non-monetary incentives" to customers including supermarkets and fuel station shops to stop selling rival energy drinks in sizes that exceeded 250 millilitres.