Energy drinks became legal in Norway in 2009, and our thirst for the caffeinated product is far from quenched yet. The selection is getting bigger and bigger, and children and young people willingly allow themselves to be tempted. This also applies among those who play sports, such as in the village of Fåberg in Lillehammer municipality. But now the local football club is taking action. – There may be a misconception that energy drinks have an effect on training. I’m no expert, but I strongly doubt it, says chairman of Faaberg football Ole Petter Østerbø. In order to gain more knowledge, the club has therefore invited a pediatrician and a nutritionist to talk to players and parents about the use and effects of energy drinks. Also used during matches and cups In the last year before the pandemic, Norwegians drank 41 million liters of energy drink, but so far this year alone, 56 million liters have been sold. Football manager Østerbø says they have noticed that more energy drinks are consumed both before and during training, as well as in connection with matches and cups. – From what I have gathered, excessive use can be a challenge. Especially for the youngest, but also for the oldest in our youth group. This month, Faaberg IL invites you to what they call an educational and important club evening. The researchers who are coming have looked at connections between energy drinks and sleep, usage habits, experiences with and attitudes towards energy drinks. – Information about this is important for all of us, the club writes in its invitation. It was Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen who first mentioned the case. Football manager and father of three Ole Petter Østerbø says his children do not get energy drinks in connection with training, but he admits that it is difficult as a parent to know where the line should be. Photo: Private Easy to end up over the limit Energy drinks usually contain caffeine, taurine, guarana, vitamins and sugar or sweeteners. Caffeine has an invigorating effect and makes us feel less tired. – Children have not developed a tolerance for caffeine, as adults have. Smaller amounts are therefore needed before they get symptoms such as irritability and restlessness, says Erik Arnesen, doctoral candidate in nutrition at the University of Oslo. He explains that we do not know for sure how stimulants such as caffeine, taurine and guarana work together. – But they produce other effects than just drinking coffee. The limit value for what is safe for children is 2.5 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight per day. This is the lowest dose known to cause, for example, anxiety in children, says Arnesen. – A ten-year-old weighing 35 kilograms should then have a maximum of 80-85 milligrams per day. The smallest can of energy drink in the store contains 80 milligrams. But we get caffeine from other sources as well. For example, a pint of Pepsi Max contains 60 milligrams of caffeine. The nutrition expert says it is a problem that we know little about caffeine’s effect on children and young people. Most of the research that is done concerns adults. But also in adults you can see, among other things, heart rhythm disturbances, addiction and withdrawal – Children are more sensitive to caffeine, so be careful. There is no age limit for buying energy drinks in Norway. It is therefore important to carefully read the fine print on the bottle or box. Photo: Skjermdump Forbrukerinspektørene / news Energy drinks Photo: Maja Susann Martinsen Johnsen / news Energy drinks are soft drinks with added caffeine. They may contain sugar or sweeteners. They are often also supplemented with taurine and other amino acids, various vitamins (especially B vitamins) and in addition carbohydrate compounds such as inositol and glucuronolactone. Caffeine is found naturally in coffee, tea, guarana, cocoa and kola nuts. For children and young people, even a low intake of caffeine can cause temporary behavioral changes such as restlessness, irritability, nervousness, anxiety and sleep problems. The addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids is subject to application. Products with such additives cannot be sold without permission from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The addition of caffeine is not subject to application. Energy drinks and other drinks containing more than 150 mg/l of caffeine must be labeled with “High caffeine content. Should not be consumed by children or pregnant or breastfeeding women”. Source: matportalen.no Don’t know the age of those who buy Director of the Brewery and Beverage Association Erlend Vagnild Fuglum says they don’t market energy drinks where the target group is mainly under 16. – But unfortunately we do not have good data showing consumption broken down by age group, which is a shame. Scientifically, there is no reason to treat the caffeine in energy drinks differently from other beverages, the director believes. According to the Norwegian authorities, coffee is the most important source of caffeine for adults, for young people it is tea, while for children it is cocoa and chocolate drinks. – An age limit on energy drinks will therefore not be very targeted. But we are clear that small bodies are more strongly affected by caffeine. The sale of energy drinks has grown ever since it became legal in Norway, says director of the Brewery and Beverage Association Erlend Vagnild Fuglum. Photo: SIRI SUGSTAD / news Fuglum says their main responsibility is labeling and marketing the products. – The boxes are clearly marked that the product is not intended for children and responsible consumption is encouraged. – But do you have the impression that young people read these warnings? – It is difficult to know for sure. But we try to label very clearly.
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Sports clubs invite health personnel to overcome young people’s use of energy drinks – news Trøndelag
