There’s around energy drinks. And it’s not just because of their notoriously .
Authors
Aja Murray
Reader in Psychology, The University of Edinburgh
Ingrid Obsuth
Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, The University of Edinburgh
In the first few weeks of 2024, the including a ban on energy drinks for under-16s in their election manifesto due to concerns about their health impact. Soldiers belonging to the – part of the king’s ceremonial bodyguards, the Household Cavalry – have also been .
Since then, one of actors, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has for his “healthy” energy drink brand, Zoa. No doubt Johnson is hoping to capitalise on the , a brand promoted by popular but controversial , among school-aged children, .
But young people’s consumption of energy drinks isn’t likely to be completely driven by influencer trends. If we want to help young people suffering the health consequences of consuming energy drinks too often, regulation is no doubt part of the picture. But we also need to examine the root causes of young people’s attraction to energy drinks.
Recent evidence suggests that in the UK up to consume energy drinks regularly. of energy drink consumption by children and young people found boys are more likely to consume higher amounts than girls.
Energy drinks can contain as much as (equivalent to over ), with . For comparison, contains about 90-140mg.
Owing to this high caffeine content, the consumption of energy drinks has been . Research has found that the drinks may also contribute to issues among young people, including anxiety, stress, irritability, and depression. All of which are almost certainly linked to disrupted sleep patterns.
So why are young people so keen on energy drinks? Academic research shows that reasons for consumption include , as a and boost mood – and to improve mental and .
Another common use for energy drink is as a mixer. Energy drinks are often to give an extra buzz. The energy drink of the alcohol so the drinker feels more alert than they might otherwise.
But this trend also has its dangers. People can end up drinking more alcohol than they realise because its effects are suppressed by the energy drinks.
Branding, marketing and peer influence encourage their use among young people, many of whom of energy drink usage. found that only about half of children knew that energy drinks contained caffeine.
Young people lacking in sleep
Though some academic reported a link between young people’s use of energy drinks and a , the exact relationship between the two isn’t clear.
Numerous factors such as , academic pressures, and mismatches between school start times and natural sleep-wake rhythms conspire to see many of the world’s of recommended sleep targets.
Whetever the cause of young people’s lack of sleep, energy drinks offer a fast and convenient way to counteract the effects of poor sleep on mood and . It’s possible, then, that young people can become trapped in vicious cycles of energy drink use, poor sleep, and deteriorating mental health.
Energy drink use has also been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (). However, while some acute effects of energy drinks, such as increased activity, resemble ADHD symptoms, it is currently unclear whether there is any long term increased risk of developing ADHD as a result of energy drink consumption.
Young people with ADHD symptoms might also be more likely to use energy drinks as a form of “self-medication” or because they enjoy the feeling or lower impulse control. As young people with ADHD are already more likely to experience sleep difficulties, they might also be an especially vulnerable group for whom energy drink use could exacerbate pre-existing sleep issues.
Bans and regulation are only part of the answer
In light of the accumulating evidence for the harms of energy drinks, several countries have started to regulate or outright ban their sale minors. In , for example, sales of energy drinks to under 18s is not allowed.
In the UK, a spearheaded by led to many supermarkets implementing a voluntary ban on sales to under-16s. The following year, the UK government said they would in England. But the ban has not been implemented.
Bans and regulation can help to change behaviour, but they are usually not enough on their own. Equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to manage their sleep and energy cycles will play a crucial role in tackling the global shortage of sleep among young people.
Most crucial of all, we need to listen to young people and understand their motivations for using energy drinks so that we can design effective strategies to support them to reduce their consumption.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
