A new Greek study highlights the growing prevalence of energy drink consumption among children and teens, raising concerns over health risks and calls for stricter regulations across Europe.
Energy drinks are increasingly part of everyday life for many children and teenagers, but paediatricians say the image of a quick boost masks a more complicated reality. In Greece, a 2026 study covering more than 40,000 pupils from primary school to lower secondary found that 26.3% said they drank an energy drink at least once a week. The Greek ESPAD 2024 survey, meanwhile, found that among first-year lyceum students, 45% of 16-year-olds had consumed alcohol mixed with an energy drink at least once, while 27.6% had done so at least three times.
Doctors warn that these drinks are not the same as soft drinks or sports drinks. The Athens association of freelance paediatricians says they contain stimulants, mainly caffeine, and often substantial amounts of sugar, as well as taurine and guarana, which can add more caffeine. That view is broadly in line with the European Food Safety Authority, which has said caffeine intake for children and adolescents should be limited and has also flagged possible concerns when energy drinks are combined with alcohol or other stimulants.
The health risks are one reason the United Kingdom has decided to ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s from April 2027. Poland introduced a similar restriction in 2024, while Lithuania has had a ban in place for a decade. The European Parliament has also noted that member states have taken different approaches, with some opting for age limits and others relying on voluntary retail measures. German risk assessors have separately warned that excessive consumption can raise cardiovascular risk, especially when energy drinks are mixed with alcohol or combined with strenuous exercise.
In Greece, paediatricians point to a growing body of research linking energy drink use with sleep disruption, anxiety, poorer school performance and risk-taking behaviour. A systematic review cited by the Greek doctors, covering 57 studies and more than 1.2 million young people, found associations with shorter and poorer sleep, psychological distress, smoking, binge drinking and use of other substances. The same review stressed that most of the evidence is observational, meaning it shows association rather than proof of cause and effect.
Those warnings land in a setting where the drinks are easy to find and heavily promoted. The Athens paediatricians want more consistent information for children, parents, schools and sports groups, clearer advice to avoid energy drinks altogether in youth, and stronger protection against marketing aimed at minors. Their concern is echoed by family members interviewed in the Kathimerini report, who described teenagers reaching for the cans daily, often in the belief that everyone else is doing the same. Market data suggest the business is still expanding: energy drinks now account for about 6% of sales by volume in Greece’s non-alcoholic drinks market, and the sector is expected to keep growing through 2031.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
