Minister Murnane O'Connor: “I welcome the publication of this important Safefood report. It highlights some very interesting findings, particularly the high levels of energy drink consumption among young people and strong public support for restrictions on their sale to children.
The Programme for Government committed to exploring restrictions on high caffeine energy drinks, particularly with regards to children. The data gathered by Safefood adds significantly to our understanding of this issue and will help inform future public health policy and measures in this area.
“Protecting the health and wellbeing of children and young people is a priority for both the Government and the Department of Health. The sale and consumption of stimulant drinks remains a concern, particularly given the popularity of these products among younger age groups.
“Energy drinks can be high in caffeine and sugar, and this research provides important insights into how they are consumed, how widely available they are, and public attitudes towards them. These findings will help inform evidence-based measures to protect and improve health across Ireland.”
