Children’s moods, concentration and behaviour at school are being negatively affected by energy drinks they’re “addicted” to, teachers in Wales have warned. The Welsh Government is currently reviewing responses to a consultation on its plans to ban selling energy drinks to under-16s.
Proposals also include limiting free refills of sugar sweetened drinks in restaurants and placing new rules on food placement and promotion. As part of the consultation, the Children’s commissioner asked young people and teachers their views, which she has now shared with the Welsh Government .
Comments from teachers taking part in the survey included energy drinks having a negative impact on learning, affecting pupils’ moods, and concentration levels. One teacher said pupils ‘get addicted and can’t concentrate because of the energy drinks and their impact.’ Another called energy drinks a ‘huge issue’ that "affects mood and behaviour on a daily basis.".
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More than six in 10 children answering the commissioner’s survey supported the Welsh Government’s proposed ban on selling energy drinks to under 16s. Asked about energy drink consumption, 66% said that “some or lots of” children their age drank energy drinks. The survey was answered by 610 children aged seven to 18 during September. While the small sample size is only a snapshot, it is an indication of views from children and teenagers.
Asked why they supported or opposed a ban on energy drinks for under-16s, almost a third of children said energy drinks could cause health issues, including heart problems. Children also referenced the high caffeine and sugar content in energy drinks.
Around six in 10 children and young people answering the survey felt that where sugary, salty or fatty food was displayed always or sometimes made a difference to whether they bought it or not. Many mentioned placement by the tills or at the front of shops, and that unhealthy foods “caught their eye”.
Nearly three-quarters said that deals like buy one get one free made them want to buy unhealthy foods. They mentioned feeling like they had missed out on free food if they didn’t buy them or being influenced by pictures of the food.
There was a more mixed response amongst children and young people when asked if they supported Welsh Government proposals to restrict free refills of sugar sweetened drinks in restaurants - 31% supported a ban but 42% said stopping free refills would be a bad idea.
When asked why they opposed a ban, the most common answer amongst children and young people related to the high cost of eating and drinking out and worries that such a move would make doing so less affordable. One child said, “going out for food and drink already costs a lot of money and if you need to pay to refill a drink it will be really expensive.” Another said: “Because it saves my dad money”.
Commenting on the survey results, Rocio Cifuentes, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales said: “Children completing my survey were largely supportive of plans to ban energy drinks to under 16s, and I think the responses show a clear understanding of the potential health impacts of those drinks.
“It’s clear too that some teachers completing the survey were worried about classroom impacts of those products. On other questions, children completing my survey were clear that placement and promotion of unhealthy foods does make a big difference, and young people’s views need to be considered as these proposals are taken forward.
“It was interesting that fewer children supported a restriction on refills of sugar sweetened drinks and that such a common answer in opposing that was about money. Children are acutely aware of the financial pressures all around them and it was sad to read responses worrying about how that would affect prices.
“Many responses too recognised the negative health impact of sugar sweetened drinks, and I also strongly welcome efforts to make food environments healthier.”
She said she would “encourage” the Welsh Government to consider the views from the survey.
