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THE next time you buy an energy drink, you shouldn’t just hurry to give it to one of your children.
A review of the latest evidence on energy drinks’ effects on health has provided a damning report on the consequences of passing such drinks to young people and children.
In the United Kingdom, authorities there have banned the sale of all energy drinks to kids and young people.
The latest review highlights links to more risks, than previously found, such as anxiety, stress and suicidal thoughts.
More than one million children from 21 countries were included in the review.
Regular drinking was more likely to make young people use drugs, be violent and have unsafe sex.
Sleep problems, poor performance at school and an unhealthy diet were also closely related to the use of energy drinks, the review found.
A medical expert said that although their research could not prove that energy drinks directly caused the health harms, because dietary studies are always observational, the findings were important and the best available evidence.
These drinks often contain high levels of caffeine and sugar, and are sold as providing an energy boost.
Most UK supermarkets have introduced a voluntary ban on the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.
A complete ban, which would also cover smaller shops, online retailers and vending machines, was proposed in England and Scotland in 2019.
“Many of these drinks contain high amounts of caffeine, as much as between 160-200mg per can in some cases, which is double the amount found in an average cup of coffee (about 80mg depending on the strength),” the letter says.
The packaging on the drinks often says they are not suitable for children, and yet they can be easily bought by Under-18s from corner shops, the researchers and experts say.
Energy drinks are marketed as giving a physical and mental boost, and providing more energy than standard soft drinks.
Up to a third of the children in the UK drink them every week.
Dr Amelia Lake, professor of public health nutrition at Teesside University, who led the review, looked at 57 recent studies of energy drinks and their impact on young people’s health.
“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,” she said.
“We need to take action now to protect them from these risks.”
The research found that boys were more likely than girls to drink energy drinks.
It is possible that energy drinks are linked to health harms because those who consume them frequently are more likely to be unhealthy in other ways – such as smoking, or drinking alcohol, for example. – H-Metro Reporter/BBC
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter