Possible crackdown on energy drinks as MPs open inquiry

A committee of MPs has launched an inquiry on the consumption of energy drinks by young people in the UK.

With research showing UK under-10s consume more energy drinks than other European countries, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee said it would look at health consequence and possible restrictions.

Consumption of energy drinks including high levels of sugar, caffeine, taurine, guarana and other minor stimulants among youngsters in the UK has increased by 185% from 2006 to 2015, such that 18% of 3-to-10 year-olds have been found to enjoy a regular energy drink tipple.

Norman Lamb MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, said: “We know that young people in the UK are the biggest consumers of energy drinks in Europe for their age. We need to understand how the caffeine and sugar in energy drinks might cause negative health outcomes.

“Meanwhile, some retailers have chosen to ban their sale, and some have not. Should it be for retailers to decide which products can be sold on health grounds? Our inquiry will consider the evidence and set out what needs to be done by the Government, the industry and others.”

The rise in consumption could be linked to the low price of energy drinks and their widespread availability, the committee suggested. And if nothing were to change, the global energy drink market, worth $50bn, is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3.5% until at least 2020.

A report from the EFSA found that the limit of caffeine a minor can drink without suffering adverse health impacts is one can of some energy drinks. Also one can of these drinks could contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar which would reach the daily limit recommended for children.

A report from the Food Research Collaboration found robust evidence that proves that children and teenagers who drink energy drinks are also more likely to consume alcohol, smoke or use drugs.

It also found that there is evidence that youth energy drink consumers are more likely to have unhealthy diets, and experience hyperactivity and a range of other health effects.

They are usually consumed during social activities like sports and computer gaming (especially by boys).

Some countries have already decided to take action to try and reduce these habits by banning sales to minors, permitting sales only in pharmacies, encouraging voluntary measures to cut down on consumption and placing warning levels on the bottles and cans.