Swedish teenagers drink energy drinks more often than in the rest of the Nordic countries

Sales of energy drinks doubled in the Nordics between 2014 and 2024. Teenagers account for a large part of consumption - but how often do they drink and how are they affected?

A new Nordic study, with the Swedish Food Agency as the main responsible, provides answers.

The Swedish 15–19-year-olds stand out in that they drink energy drinks more often than teenagers in the rest of the Nordic region. 75 percent drink every week, 28 percent drink at least once a day. The taste and the energy boost attract the most, but 38 percent of those who drink energy drinks testify to sleep difficulties.

To a somewhat higher degree, Swedish teenagers also show signs of addiction, such as fatigue and headaches if they do not fill up on energy drinks.

Swedish teenagers do not drink large amounts on every occasion, but do ingest more caffeine.

- The energy drink that is most popular in Sweden contains quite a lot of caffeine. In Denmark and Norway they have maximum levels, so the energy drinks there must not contain more caffeine than the brands with the lowest levels in Sweden, explains toxicologist and project manager Sabina Litens Karlsson at the Swedish Food Agency.

The study does not provide an answer as to why Swedish teenagers drink more often, but Sabina Litens Karlsson points to some possible explanations.

- Several of the other countries have more regulation than Sweden when it comes to the marketing of unhealthy products. Norway has also introduced an age limit of 16 years.

In Sweden, there is dietary advice that young people under the age of 16 should not drink more than 70 milligrams of caffeine per day. This corresponds to 125–220 milliliters of energy drink, depending on the caffeine content. But according to the Nordic study, the vast majority of Swedish teenagers drink 250–330 milliliters per time.

There is no Swedish ban on marketing, even though the Public Health Agency and the Swedish Food Agency have proposed it to the government. There is no age limit either, although many stores set a 15-year limit themselves.

The Swedish Food Agency will now turn directly to young people in the Nordic region in order to work with them and experts to find out how to reduce consumption in the teenage group. Because it is worryingly high, according to Sabina Litens Karlsson.

- Yes, I would say that given that it is so connected to everyday life. Swedish young people indicate to a greater extent that they need energy drinks to perform at school. Approximately half also state that they sometimes cannot get through the day without an energy drink.