In this issue of Paediatrics and Child Health, Wong et al. (1) comment on our position statement on ‘Energy and sports drinks in children and adolescents’ (2) and raise an excellent point regarding the growing public health impact of caffeinated energy drink (CED) consumption, in Canada as well as globally. CEDs, as well as sports drinks, contribute, at least in part, to the rapidly rising obesity epidemic because of their high sugar content. CEDs, due to their caffeine content, are not recommended for children. CEDs have also been associated with unhealthy dietary behaviours and greater BMI (3). In addition, many teenagers and young adults admit to mixing alcohol and CEDs (4–6), a worrisome combination that may result in decreased perceived intoxication, enhanced stimulation and increased desire to drink more alcohol (7). CEDs must carry cautionary statements that they should not be mixed with alcohol. Alcoholic beverages containing added caffeine cannot be legally sold in Canada.
It is sobering to note that adverse events associated with the consumption of CEDs have been reported in Canadian children as young as 8 years of age (8). In a study conducted in Italy (9), 6% of sixth graders and 16.5% of 8th graders surveyed consumed CEDs at least once a week. Even more concerning are results of the Monitoring the Future Survey in the USA showing that, in 2012, 11% of 8th graders reported consuming CEDs mixed with alcohol at least once in the past year (10).
We whole-heartedly agree with Wong et al. and applaud their enthusiasm. We also strongly support Health Canada’s proposal (11) to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages (those high in sugar, saturated fat and sodium) to children and youth under the age of 17 years, and advocate that Health Canada expand the age of restriction for the promotion of caffeine-containing products from age 12 years and under to include youth age 17 years and under. Paediatricians have a unique opportunity to promote healthy behaviours. We need to advocate for stricter regulations to protect children and youth from the marketing and distribution of CEDs, and for strategies that monitor, evaluate, and enforce proposed marketing restriction regulations.
References
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