North East researchers call for a ban on the sale of energy drinks to under 16 year olds
It's after a study found kids were regularly buying them - sometimes for as little as 25p.
Last updated 5th Dec 2017
There are calls for shops to be banned from selling energy drunks to children aged under 16.
Its after a study from FUSE (the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, a collaboration of North East Universities) spoke to children from our region aged 10-14, and found that 1 in 3 of them were regularly buying these drinks – which in some cases were being sold for as little as 25p.
They also discovered that energy drinks were:
o Easily available to the children and young people in local shops. The children were well aware of the different brands, key ingredients and some of the risks linked to drinking them. However, they were less certain about the amount of sugar and caffeine contained in the drinks.
o Sold for as little as 25p (single cans are often on promotion, e.g. 4 for £1) with some of the young people taking advantage of the offers by pooling their money and sharing the drinks.
o Targeted at children online in pop-up adverts, on television, in computer games for over-18s, and through sports sponsorship. Some of the young people said that they chose energy drinks to ‘fit in’ or ‘look tough’ but others had made the decision, as a friendship group, to stop drinking them.
o Linked to activities that could be considered attractive to young people, including music, extreme sports, sexuality (both masculinity and femininity), gaming, drinking alcohol and general risk-taking. (see more on the study here)
The UK government has already announced a tax on sugary drinks as a step towards tackling childhood obesity, but researchers are now calling for the Government to tackle energy drinks – which are said to be high in both sugar and caffeine.
Dr Amelia Lake, Fuse Associate Director, dietitian and Reader in Public Health Nutrition at Teesside University, said:
“While this is a small study in one part of England it gives us a huge amount of insight."
“What’s interesting is the young people are essentially asking why these drinks are being sold and marketed to them when we know they are not good for them."
“They are telling us that energy drinks cost less than water or pop!"
“They are asking, why aren’t energy drinks age restricted like cigarettes? Why can they get them so easily? But they are also well aware there isn’t a simple solution."
“Schools have tried restricting these drinks - now it’s time to try and do something more central. These drinks are a problem and a government solution is needed.”
The study also cited exsiting research that discussed the health issues associated with the drinks – it’s said they can lead to insomnia, heart palpitations and headaches.
Do you think this is the right way to go? Let us know on Twitter.