Over 75% support energy-drink age restrictions - Safefood

More than three in four people (77%) support introducing age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to children, according to research published today by Safefood.

The research found high levels of consumption among younger age groups, with more than half (54%) of 15-to-24-year-olds surveyed drinking energy drinks at least once a week, and 12% consuming them every day.

An energy boost was the primary reason given for drinking them (51%), followed by liking the taste (45%). Among parents of children under 18, 11% reported that their child drinks energy drinks at least weekly.

The report also highlighted an expanding market, with 77 energy drink products available to buy in Ireland, up from 39 in 2015 and 42 in 2019.

Portion sizes have also increased across brands. In 2026, 55% of energy drinks were sold in 500 ml cans, up from 38% in 2019, while smaller 250 ml cans fell from 60% to 37% over the same period.

Average sugar levels have risen from 22.6 g per serving in 2019 to 30.9 g in 2026, an increase of around two teaspoons of sugar per serving. Three products in the survey contained between 65 g and 70 g of sugar per serving, equal to 17.5 teaspoons.

Caffeine levels also remain high. The average energy drink contains 115 mg of caffeine per serving, equivalent to 1.4 espressos, while some products contain up to 200 mg, or around 2.5 espressos. While caffeine concentration per 100 ml has remained stable since 2015, larger serving sizes mean higher single-dose caffeine intakes.

The report said that despite high consumption, almost everyone (97%) was aware that energy drinks can negatively affect sleep, concentration and mood, particularly in children and young people. However, the findings suggest that awareness alone is not enough to influence behaviour.

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said that the report "highlights some important findings, particularly the high levels of energy drink consumption among young people and the strong public support for restrictions on their sale to children.

"These findings will help inform evidence-based measures to protect and improve the health of people across Ireland."

One woman told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that she consumes energy drinks in "emergency situations", such as exams and all-nighters to focus on her studies, but does not drink them very often.

She said they help keep your energy up before a deadline.

However, she admitted she "absolutely" does not think they are good for your health.

"You feel awful after drinking … messing with your energy levels that extremely [is] definitely not healthy."

Many more energy drinks on Irish shelves - Safefood Ireland

Also speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, CEO of Safefood Ireland Dr Joanne Uí Chrualaoich said that the drinks are particularly bad because they don't have a nutritional benefit.

"There's nothing good in the drinks for people," she said. "So we would always recommend people are getting their foods and drinks from high quality [sources], a balanced nutrition. Water for hydration, for example.

"Caffeine is obviously a stimulant, and can impact on sleep, can impact on various neurological and mood. Also there's some evidence that it may affect the short-term cardiovascular health.

"And then obviously sugar can be linked to an intake of excessive calories, and maybe obesity, and insulin and diabetes, and also dental health is impacted."

Ms Uí Chrualaoich added that since the sugar tax was introduced in 2018, it has led to a considerable amount of reformulation of energy drinks, and a number of them coming in with lower sugars.

"There are just many more of these on the shelves," she said. "It's gone up from 42 in 2019 to 116, identified, and 77 of those are available in Irish supermarkets."

She said that the main thing that SafeFood Ireland was doing today is getting this research out, which will help inform what Ireland should do in relation to a possible restrictions on energy drinks.

"There are a number of tools that we can use to address this," she said.

"Education and awareness. The drinks industry are involved in reformulation of these drinks.

"There are fiscal policies and there is legislation and there is a bill at second stage in the Seanad which will come back in November.

Ms Uí Chrualaoich said that SafeFood Ireland was asking Government to look at this research "and consider it in the context of that proposed legislation and consider what the best approach for Ireland would be."