19,000 Dutch teens drink too many energy drinks: health institute

Some 19 thousand Dutch teenagers drink too many energy drinks and therefore run health risks, public health institute RIVM concluded after a study. State Secretary Paul Blokhuis of Public Health is talking with various organizations about measures, NOS reports.

According to the RIVM, the consumption of energy drinks among teenagers declined over the past years. But about 1 to 2 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 18 years drink three cans or more per day. They therefore run an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia and their central nervous system being affected.

Blokhuis is calling on doctors to be alert to excessive energy drink consumption and to provide information about the risks to teenagers. He also wants the Nutrition Center guidelines on this to get more attention. According to the Nutrition Center, kids under 13 must not drink energy drinks at all. Teenagers should rather not, or one can per day at most.

This week Aldi and Lidl announced that they will soon stop selling energy drinks to kids below the age of 14 years. Earlier this year Dutch pediatricians called for a ban on selling energy drinks to children under the age of 18.