Following new research about the impact of energy drinks on children, more than 40 health organisations including the British Dental Association (BDA) are making an urgent appeal to the government.
Published in Public Health on 15 Jan, the paper brought together 57 studies of more than 1.2 million children globally. Researchers defined energy drinks as beverages containing high amounts of caffeine and sugar, potentially in combination with other stimulants.
It found that boys and older adolescents were more likely to consume energy drinks. Other factors that correlated with their consumption included:
- Being from a blended or lone-parent family
- Having parents who diet
- Having parents who are highly critical of past mistakes
- Having access to more spending money
- Energy drink usage by peers.
Those with higher grades, more educated parents and a greater amount of parental supervision were less likely to consume energy drinks.
Impact of energy drinks on children
The authors of the study identified several health-damaging behaviours more likely to present in children who drank energy drinks. For example, binge drinking, smoking and other substance abuse, and engaging in unsafe behaviours. There was also a correlation with poor lifestyle choices such as skipping meals and eating more fast food.
Energy drinks were also found to be detrimental to children’s health directly. Those who drank them were more likely so suffer from heart disease, allergies, insulin resistance and mental health problems. A significant impact on dental health was also identified. Children who consumed energy drinks were more likely to experience dental caries and erosive tooth wear.
Many participants believed that energy drinks would enhance their athletic performance, but the study found limited evidence to support this.
Lead author Amelia Lake said: ‘Energy drinks are marketed to children and young people as a way to improve energy and performance, but our findings suggest that they are actually doing more harm than good.
We have raised concerns about the health impacts of these drinks for the best part of a decade after finding that they were being sold to children as young as 10-years-old for as little as 25p. That is cheaper than bottled water.
‘The evidence is clear that energy drinks are harmful to the mental and physical health of children and young people as well as their behaviour and education. We need to take action now to protect them from these risks.’
‘They need to be taken off the menu’
The BDA is among over 40 health organisations, researchers and public health leaders making an urgent appeal to the government. The group has asked health secretary Victoria Atkins and shadow secretary Wes Streeting how much more evidence is needed before sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16s are restricted.
The BDA said: ‘These drinks are habit forming, highly acidic and can contain over 20 teaspoons of sugar. They need to be taken off the menu for children.’
Several of the other organisations involved have also spoken out about the research.
William Roberts, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: ‘This important review adds to the growing evidence that energy drinks can be harmful to children and young people’s physical and mental health, both in the short and long-term.
‘That’s why we need the UK Government to step up and deliver on its 2019 commitment to ban sales of energy drinks to under 16s. In doing so it would not only be following the evidence, but also following the example of countries that have already restricted sales to children, a move supported by the majority of the public.’
Age restrictions on energy drinks are currently in place in Lithuania, Latvia, Turkey and Sweden. Though not officially supported by law, sale of energy drinks to children is also discouraged in the US and Spain.
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