Health and consumer groups in Denmark are calling for young people to be banned from buying drinks with high levels of caffeine. The Centre for Childhood Health and the Danish Consumer Council are pushing for tighter regulations on energy drinks, with the aim of protecting minors from the harmful effects of caffeine.
CEO Morten Grønbæk of the Centre for Childhood Health stated that children are often pressured by advertisements and influencers to consume energy drinks, which can have negative effects on their health. The Danish Food Authority has also highlighted the impact of caffeine on children’s brains and bodies.
Medical literature has connected the use of energy drinks among children to anxiety, stress, and suicidal thoughts, due to the disruptive effects of caffeine and sugar on sleep and the nervous system. Denmark would be following the footsteps of other countries like Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, who have already implemented age limits on the sale of energy drinks.
In the UK, the Labour party has proposed banning the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to under-16s, a measure that has been voluntarily adopted by supermarkets. Current labeling regulations in Denmark require products with high caffeine content to warn against consumption by children, pregnant, or breastfeeding women.
Some critics view age limits on energy drinks as a “nanny state” policy, while others believe it is necessary to shield children from addictive and potentially harmful substances until they are old enough to make informed decisions. Denmark’s move towards tighter regulations on energy drinks reflects a growing concern for the health and well-being of young consumers.
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