Energy drinks and young people’s health

Around one in three young people say that they regularly consume energy drinks, which typically contain high levels of caffeine and sugar. Under-18s in the UK consume more energy drinks than those in other European countries.

Energy drink consumption in schools was identified as a concern in County Durham (North East England) by parents, teachers and professionals. This collaborative research aimed to explore the factors influencing this behaviour and inform plans to develop interventions to educate young people and parents. It is the first qualitative research on energy drinks to involve primary school children.

A review of the existing evidence demonstrated that consumption of energy drinks by under-18s is associated with adverse outcomes, risky behaviours and common health complaints, such as headaches and stomach aches.

The qualitative study - HYPER (Hearing Young People's Views on Energy Drinks: Research) Study - exploring views and experiences of energy drinks, involved pupils (aged 10-14), staff and parents from four schools in County Durham. Pupils also helped to survey the accessibility and availability of energy drinks locally.

The research revealed that energy drinks were easily available in local shops; sold for as little as 25p (‘four for £1’ promotions); targeted at children through online adverts, computer games, television and sports sponsorship; and linked to extreme sports, gaming, sexuality, gender, and use of sexualised imagery.

An information leaflet was developed with local parents and used in schools and dentist surgeries across County Durham and an animated video that health practitioners are using when they visit young people. The findings received international media coverage, contributed to a national campaign and most UK supermarkets subsequently banned the sale of energy drinks to under-16s. A Government inquiry was launched acknowledging the study, the research team gave evidence to the Science and Technology committee on the effects of energy drinks on young people’s mental and physical health, and banning the sale of energy drinks to children was included in the government’s green paper, Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s.

The study was funded by The Children’s Foundation and supported by local partners including Durham Drug and Alcohol Advice Service.

How the Fuse energy drinks research story developed:

• October 2016: Fuse academics co-author a review published in BMJ Open: 'Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a rapid review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes'. LINK

• November 2017: Fuse academics co-author a journal paper published in PLOS ONE: 'Children and young people's perceptions of energy drinks: A qualitative study'. LINK

• Fuse press release circulated to publicise research: ‘Experts call for age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks’ which receives national and international press coverage. LINK

• January 2018: National campaign, fronted by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and supported by Fuse academic Dr Amelia Lake, backed by parents, academics, teachers and the NASUWT teaching union. LINK

• UK shops Co-op, Boots, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl and Tesco agree to ban the sale of energy drinks to children.

• February 2018: Dr Amelia Lake invited to Westminster to meet MP Norman Lamb, Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee, to outline the evidence behind a call for age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to young people. LINK

• March 2018: A Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into the consumption of energy drinks is announced which directly acknowledges the Fuse study. LINK

• June 2018: Dr Lake provides evidence to the Commons Select Committee on the effects of energy drinks on young people’s mental and physical health. LINK

• A raft of new proposals is outlined by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in a bid to halve the number of obese children by 2030, including preventing the sale of energy drinks to under 16s. LINK

• August 2018: The government launches a public consultation on its plans to make it illegal to sell energy drinks to anybody under the age of 18. LINK

• December 2018: The Science and Technology Select Committee publishes its ‘Energy Drinks and Children Report’, which concludes that societal concerns could justify a ban on the sale of energy drinks to children. However, the current quantitative evidence alone is not sufficient to warrant a statutory ban. Fuse academics urge the government to press ahead with proposals to restrict the sale of the drinks to children. LINK

• July 2019: The government’s green paper is published proposing a ban on the sale of energy drinks to under 16s. LINK

• July 2020: The government’s obesity strategy does not include a ban on the sale of energy drinks to under 16s. LINK

• Fuse press release circulated in response to obesity strategy: 'Frustration at lack of action on energy drink sales to children'. LINK

• June 2022: Welsh Government launches consultation on proposals to end the sale of energy drinks to children under 16. LINK

• August/September 2022: Prof Amelia Lake meets with the Welsh Government Healthy Weight Programme to discuss Energy Drinks and Food Environments. Briefing documents on Fuse related research outputs prepared to inform the Welsh Government's national consultation on ways to improve young people's health and reduce obesity.

• January 2024: Fuse academics co-author a journal paper published in Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) journal Public Health: 'Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes'. LINK

• Fuse press release circulated to publicise research receives international press coverage: ‘Evidence shows wider range of risks associated with energy drinks in children. Experts ask how much more evidence is needed before Government action?'. LINK

• February 2024: UK media report that a ban on sale of energy drinks to people aged under 16 is being considered by the Labour Party as part of its forthcoming election manifesto. Restrictions would be welcomed by Fuse academic Prof Amelia Lake who has long warned about the dangerous impact the drinks have on children. LINK

Latest resources:

Blog: Energy drinks may be commercially lucrative but what is more valuable than the health of our children?

Podcast: Should we be concerned about energy drinks and young people’s health?

Policy Brief: Evidence shows wider range of risks associated with energy drinks in children

Fuse Open Science blogs:

Energy drinks may be commercially lucrative but what is more valuable than the health of our children?

It is time to ban the sale of energy drinks to children in the UK

Young people in the UK drink more energy drinks than any other countries in Europe

What should we do about children and young people’s consumption of energy drinks?

Not just a can of pop: the social meanings of energy drinks

Energy drinks: Don't believe the hype

News: 

2020

Frustration at lack of action on energy drink sales to children

Energy drinks ban to under 16s welcomed but more must be done

Energy drinks research takes Fuse academic to California

2019

Energy drinks ban for children a positive step forward – says Fuse academic

Government urged to stay on course with energy drinks ban as report is published

2018

Academic talks energy drinks at Commons Select Committee

Energy drinks ban welcomed by campaigners

Jamie Oliver joins call for age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks

MP invites academic to provide expertise on energy drinks and young people

Experts call for age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks

2024

Energy drinks associated with increased risk of mental health issues in children

Podcasts:

Fuse Podcast 'Public Health Research and Me': Should we be concerned about energy drinks and young people’s health?

Dr Kathy Weston's Get a Grip! Parenting Podcast: Professor Amelia Lake Discusses the Harms Associated with Energy Drinks

The Food Acive Podcast: Children and young people’s energy drink consumption: What does the latest evidence tell us?

Publications:

Visram S, Cheetham M, Riby DM, et al. Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a rapid review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes. BMJ Open 2016;6:e010380. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010380

Visram S, Crossley SJ, Cheetham M, Lake A (2017) Children and young people’s perceptions of energy drinks: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE 12(11): e0188668. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0188668

The HYPER (Hearing Young People’s Views on Energy Drinks: Research) Study Final Report

C. Ajibo, A. Van Griethuysen, S. Visram, A.A. Lake. Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes. Public Health, 2024, ISSN 0033-3506, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.024.

Research brief:

Should we be concerned about energy drinks and young people's health?

Evidence shows wider range of risks associated with energy drinks in children

Resources:

HYPER energy drink leaflet‌

Last modified: Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:46:41 GMT