Galicia could become the first autonomous community to prohibit the consumption of energy drinks by minors, a rule that in turn could motivate similar actions in the rest of the Spanish territories or even at the state level. Doctors, dieticians-nutritionists and organizations that ensure global health such as the WHO have been warning for years about the dangers of these soft drinks that are so popular among young people, which is why this initiative is being so applauded.
According to data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, 62% of adolescents between 10 and 18 years old and 26% of children between 3 and 10 years old consume these drinks regularly, figures that in 2021 motivated the Spanish Food Safety Agency and Nutrition (Aesan) will publish a report on the potential health risks of these products and demand a legal framework to promote responsible consumption.
Abusive consumption can cause insomnia and reduce the duration of sleep. This is due to the high doses of caffeine in these soft drinks, which can contain up to 15, 32, 40 and 55 mg per 100 g of product. According to the brand, they are distributed in formats of different quantities and "since they exist in 500 ml, it is easy for a young person or adolescent to end up drinking a liter a day, which in the end is a couple of units," explained Dr. Carmen Rubio Armendáriz, member of the Aesan Scientific Committee, in this report. In these quantities, reaching 3 mg per kilo of weight per day of caffeine is also possible, and, according to Aesan, doing so could cause serious problems, such as cardiovascular and hematological, neurological and psycho-behavioral damage.
Nervousness, anxiety, depression, impulsivity and poor academic performance are other effects of high consumption of these products in adolescents, the dietitian-nutritionist Julio Basulto warned a year ago in a post on his blog, which returned this weekend. to share on your social networks. The expert relies on a study that also lists other consequences of recurrent consumption, such as hypertension, loss of bone density, osteoporosis, low psychological, physical, educational and general well-being.
"And there is even more: the acute consumption of these concoctions generates an overdose of caffeine and is an indicator of both the use/abuse of other psychoactive substances (such as tobacco, sedatives, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy) and of risky behaviors," he adds. Basulto.
The food technologist Miguel Ángel Lurueña, the nutritionist Aitor Sánchez and many other personalities from the world of food and nutrition have supported the measure. Also because another recurring trend among young people is to combine energy drinks with alcohol. This practice can be very harmful, experts warn, because the sugar in these soft drinks encourages alcohol to penetrate the cell. And that's not to mention that presenting caffeine can give the sensation of not consuming alcohol and its effects may be noticed later, which can cause higher intake.
A group of researchers linked to the WHO also warned about this risk in 2014, noting that the sugars contained in these drinks contribute to an increase in obesity and cause cavities and dental ailments. And sugar is another element that makes these products so discouraged: according to the sinazúcar.org project, a single can can contain 15 sugar cubes, that is, 60 grams, when it is recommended not to exceed 25 grams. diaries.
