Energy Drinks

Mountain Dew launches gaming-inspired drinks

Mountain Dew launches gaming-inspired drinks

By Beth Newhart

PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew brand has launched Mtn Dew Amp Game Fuel in the US: a line of drinks designed by video gamers and optimized for ‘an enhanced gaming experience’ with features such as a no-slip grip, resealable lid, and ingredients for alertness.

Pic:iStock

Jamie Oliver leads calls to ban energy drink sales to U16s

By Rachel Arthur

Celebrity chef and health campaigner Jamie Oliver is calling on the UK government to ban sales of energy drinks to U16s. Meanwhile, supermarket Waitrose has announced that customers buying high caffeine energy drinks must prove they are over 16 years...

Innovation in low/no sugar gathers pace. Pic:iStock/nixoncreative

Sports and energy drinks: The rise in low sugar NPD

By Rachel Arthur

The upcoming sugar tax in the UK – along with consumers’ concerns over sugar – have encouraged sports and energy drinks brands to step up low- and no-sugar product development. In fact, these varieties accounted for 26% of launches in 2016, according...

'...we suggest that arrhythmia could be a complication of ED consumption...' ©iStock

Energy drinks linked to cardiac events

By Eliot Beer

A new study of a patient with cardiac arrhythmia and bloody vomit after drinking Monster energy drinks provides new evidence the high-caffeine beverages may cause cardiac problems.

The global energy drink sector is set for robust growth but could regulations and health concerns chill expansion? ©iStock

Sector to grow 40% by 2020

The world’s unquenchable thirst for energy drinks

By Shane STARLING

Global sales of energy drinks hit €38.2 billion last year and will be worth €53.4bn in 2020 according to Euromonitor International, even as regulatory winds blow ill beneath the sector's wings. 

'In Saudi Arabia they have huge restrictions on energy drinks – in summary, you can do nothing – you can’t do tastings, advertising, sponsorship, nothing,' says one brand in the region. © iStock.com / lowkick

Saudi Arabia smacks energy drinks with new fines

By Eliot Beer

Saudi Arabia has announced further restrictions on energy drinks, with fines to be levied against outlets serving the beverages, but the impact will be minimal, according to Euromonitor.

Consumer groups have called for a pan-EU ban on energy sales to under 18s following bans in Lithuania and Latvia. © iStock.com / mearman

What if... the EU banned energy drink sales to under 18s

By David Burrows

An EU-wide ban on selling energy drinks to under 18s would see volume sales fall by over 70 million litres, if the impact of similar legislation in Lithuania is anything to go by. The low-priced end of the market would be hit hardest, with standard and...

Online forum to raise awareness of health risks of consuming energy drinks particularly among young people. © iStock.com / MSPhotographic

Germany asks: When do energy drinks pose a risk?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has launched an online forum entitled ‘Energy Drinks: When do they pose a risk?’, which it hopes will raise awareness of the risks of high consumption in conjunction with alcohol and sports. 

Advertisements will also be subject to restrictions such as obligatory health warnings on the dangers of excessive consumption. © iStock.com / dk_photos

Latvia to ban energy drink sales to under 18s

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Latvia will follow in the footsteps of its Baltic neighbour by banning the sale of energy drinks to under 18s – something the country’s advertising association has called anti-EU.

A man was admitted to hospital because of thirst, sweating and nausea after drinking four cans of the energy drink Burn

The curious case of energy drinks & hypokalemia

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The medical case study of a man rushed to intensive care with severe potassium deficiency has brought the issue of energy drinks and hypokalemia back into the spotlight.

Energy drinks ride out tough economic times

By Niamh Michail

Different flavours, artificial caffeine alternatives and a place in everyday life give energy drinks the staying power to survive the recession, says a Canadean report.

Sales of energy shots slump as consumers reach for drinks instead

Sales of energy shots slump as consumers reach for drinks instead

By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of energy shots are slumping as their medicinal taste and less favorable position as a supplement drive consumers to reach for energy drinks, which many shoppers consider safer, according to new research from Mintel Group.

Lipton builds on its Be More Tea campaign with the launch of a festival

Beverage bites: news up to May 29, 2015

Suntory goes shopping, Lipton launches festival, and more beverage bites

By Rachel Arthur

This week PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi was ranked #15 on Forbes’ Most Powerful Women list; while research said teens are ditching beer in favour of energy drinks. Meanwhile, Lipton is preparing for a big birthday party… read on for more beverage bites. 

Thought soft drinks were sugary? Look at energy drinks! says Action on Sugar

20 teaspoons of sugar in an energy drink: Campaign group calls for ban of sales to U16s

Thought soft drinks were sugary? Look at energy drinks! says Action on Sugar

By Rachel Arthur

Energy drinks contain up to 20 teaspoons of sugar per 500ml serving – more than three times the maximum adult daily intake of free sugars a day, according to research released by Action on Sugar. 

'The 400mg [daily] upper limit should also not be understood as a green light for consuming up to five energy drinks a day,' says consumer group BEUC.

EFSA caffeine opinion is not a green light

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) safety assessment on caffeine is not necessarily a green light for high caffeine consumption or for long-stalled health claims, according to industry commentators.