Serious health risks associated with energy drinks

These include risk-seeking behaviour, mental health problems, increased blood pressure, obesity and kidney damage.

The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, also highlights the worrying trend of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. The authors recommend restricted sales to children and adolescents and setting evidence-based caffeine limits.

Last year, Maria Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health at Cardiff University, led a study that showed a high proportion of 12-14 year olds were regularly consuming sports drinks socially, increasing their risk of obesity and tooth erosion.

The Cardiff University School of Dentistry survey suggested that dental health professionals should be 'aware of the popularity of sports drinks with children when giving health education or advice or designing health promotion initiatives'.