Reaching for an energy drink? Check the sugar and caffeine content first. Some energy drinks contain more than 17 teaspoons of sugar and a level of caffeine equivalent to 2.5 espressos. That’s just one of the findings of Safefood’s newly published survey which looked at the energy drinks market across the island of Ireland.
It found that the average sugar content of energy drinks has risen by two teaspoons since 2019, while the proportion of larger serving sizes is also increasing. Those larger sizes mean we’re consuming more caffeine and more sugar.
To help people to make informed choices, Safefood has developed a handy online checker that shows the sugar and caffeine content of energy drinks. Find it at Energy drinks checker | Safefood
The report also highlights the popularity of energy drinks among young people in Northern Ireland, with 6 in 10 people aged 15-24 saying they drink them at least once a week. One in 8 young people said they drink them every day. An energy boost was the main reason given for drinking energy drinks, with almost two-thirds (64%) of people in Northern Ireland citing this as their primary motivation for consumption.
Despite these high levels of consumption, almost all of those surveyed (99%) were aware or somewhat aware of the potential negative health effects of energy drinks, with 87% saying they were fully aware. However, the findings suggest that awareness alone is not enough to influence behaviour.
Availability of energy drinks has also increased. Since last measured by Safefood in 2019, the number of energy drinks available to buy from supermarkets on the island of Ireland has almost doubled, from 42 to 77.
Among those surveyed by Ipsos B&A, 3 in 4 in four people in Northern Ireland said they would support introducing age restrictions on energy drink sales to children.
To read the full report go to https://www.safefood.net/professional/research/research-projects/energy-drinks-2026#researchreport
