Today it is difficult to find someone who does not know what product “gives you wings.” Advertising for energy drinks has been flying high for a long time, and it is common to see it at sporting and cultural events or on television.
Furthermore, in recent weeks, we have heard in Spain new proposals regarding the legal regulation of these drinks by the Ministry of Health or the Xunta de Galicia, which published last November a draft law to prohibit their sale to minors.
But what effects do they have on health? Why is there so much concern about teenagers taking them?
Energy drinks are non-alcoholic drinks that contain caffeine, taurine, sugar, vitamins and other ingredients. They offer the consumer the possibility of improving performance and increasing energy. Since its appearance in 1987, its production has grown exponentially, and it is estimated that its market value exceeds 100 billion dollars.
The latest epidemiological data collected in the 2023 ESTUDES survey indicate that 37.7% of Spanish adolescents between 12 and 13 years old, as well as 47.7% of individuals between 14 and 18, have consumed an energy drink in the last month. Furthermore, 10.2% of minors between 12 and 13 years old, and 19.5% between 14 and 18 years old, have combined them with alcohol. These prevalences are the highest since 2016, the year in which their consumption began to be analyzed.
The ingredient that has generated the most debate is caffeine. Energy drinks contain between 290 and 430 mg per liter, depending on the brand. It is an addictive substance that produces dependence and tolerance, and, therefore, a withdrawal syndrome when reducing or eliminating its consumption.
Recommendations indicate that consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine daily has detrimental health effects in adults. Although safe levels are not clear for children and adolescents, it is not recommended to take more than 2.5 mg per kilo of weight per day.
Excessive consumption of this stimulant substance leads to important negative health effects, such as cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive problems, and mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or insomnia.
Caffeine, sugar and taurine have been widely studied. However, the effects derived from the consumption of energy drinks cannot be attributed to the sum of their ingredients, since there is the possibility of generating an additional effect derived from the combination of their components.
Taking these products has an impact on physical health, affecting the lungs, liver and kidneys, as well as the cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive systems. Additionally, it is linked to mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and sleep problems. And if that were not enough, it has been linked to behaviors such as not wearing a seat belt, engaging in risky sexual practices or consuming legal and illegal drugs.
One of the most dangerous practices is combining it with alcoholic beverages. Energy drinks camouflage the effects of alcohol intoxication (lack of motor coordination, increased reaction times, drowsiness…), giving rise to a false perception of control.
This translates into greater alcohol intake, greater risk of suffering from alcohol coma and other unwanted consequences, such as traffic accidents. Additionally, it can produce long-term harmful effects on the liver or cardiovascular system.
There are two fundamental issues in the prevention of any addictive behavior: risk perception and accessibility or availability.
Energy drinks have a low risk perception, that is, they are socially accepted among young people. It is essential to promote a critical view. Carrying out information campaigns about the consequences of their consumption and implementing prevention programs are feasible and effective options to raise awareness about the dangers they entail.
Furthermore, the advertising of these products is present in numerous contexts related to young people – such as sporting events – or associated with people of public relevance (for example, streamers). The exaltation of the potential beneficial effects of its consumption is aimed especially at children and adolescents.
In short, advertising leads to a normalization of the use and abuse of these drinks. This justifies the importance of regulating advertising, sponsorship and promotion of energy drinks.
Regarding accessibility, the sale and purchase of energy drinks is not regulated in Spain: there are no restrictions on who can buy them or in what places and conditions they can be sold. For this reason, it is proposed to establish a minimum age to be able to purchase them, restrict the points of sale and increase their price. Countries such as Germany, Latvia or Switzerland have implemented measures to reduce consumption by minors.
In short, the popularity of this type of drink among young people and adolescents has alerted the scientific community. Not only because of its high prevalence, but also because of its combined consumption with alcohol, its lax regulation, its high accessibility and its low risk perception. It is necessary to develop preventive and legislative measures to stop it.
This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Gema Aonso-Diego is a teacher and researcher at the University of Deusto. Andrea Krotter Díaz is a health psychologist and predoctoral researcher in the Addictive Behaviors Clinical Unit of the University of Oviedo. Ángel García Pérez is a professor and researcher in Psychology at the University of León.
