Almost three in ten (28%) Swedish youths drink energy drinks at least once a day, and three in four (75%) drink them weekly. This compares to 22% and 61% respectively across the Nordic region as a whole.
Swedish teenagers are also more likely to state that they drink energy drinks to help them perform at school, at 33% compared to 25% in the Nordic region as a whole.
However, one in three experiences negative health effects, and an equal number wish to reduce their intake (35%).
However, the study called Energy drink and caffeine consumption among Nordic adolescents also revealed growing concerns about consumption levels. More than a third (35%) of Swedish youths reported experiencing negative health effects linked to energy drinks, while the same proportion said they would like to reduce their intake.
Nordic researchers also found greater levels of dependency of young people in the country as one in two young people said that, at least occasionally, they cannot get through the day without an energy drink, which is slightly higher figure than the Nordic average.
The Nordic region is not the only area to raise concern about the impact of energy drinks. Globally there are increasing concerns among regulators around youth consumption. Many countries have banned or restricted the sale of energy drinks in response.
The Nordic research also found that energy drink brands with higher caffeine concentrations are more popular among Swedish youths than in the rest of the Nordic region while that also have a broader pattern of caffeine consumption, regularly drinking cola beverages and taking caffeine-fortified dietary supplements.
Only 7% of Swedish youths said they never drink energy drinks, compared to 16% in the Nordic region overall.
The findings come from research funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and delivered by the Swedish Food Agency. The study surveyed total of 4,916 youths aged 15–19 across Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland.
Across the wider Nordic region it found that energy drink consumption is widespread, with 39% of them revealing they began consuming energy drinks at age 13 or younger.
Almost a third (30%) reported experiencing negative health effects from energy drinks, including heart palpitations, sleep problems, and dizziness, while 15% reported feeling discomfort when not consuming energy drinks. One in three said they want to cut down.
Consumption patterns varied between countries with Denmark having the lowest consumption while Norway is also lower than in the Nordic region as a whole. In Finland, many young people start drinking energy drinks at an early age. One in four reports starting before the age of 12.
The research also explored the reasons why young people were consuming the energy drinks.
It found that taste was the most common reason, cited by 73% of respondents, while 51% said it was to gain more energy and 34% to stay awake. Boys were also likely to drink energy drinks more frequently than girls.
Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, said: “The study sends a strong warning signal that far too many young people are dependent on energy drinks to get through day-to-day life. This could have serious consequences for young people’s mental health and education. This is a shared challenge for the Nordic countries, and we need to work together to break this pattern.”
Sabina Litens Karlsson, toxicologist and nutritionist at the Swedish Food Agency and project said the study showed that young people described a level of consumption that they were struggling to control.
