More than three-quarters of people in Ireland now support age restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to children, according to Safefood research that underscores growing concern about the popularity of the products among younger consumers. The survey found that 54% of people aged 15 to 24 drink energy drinks at least once a week, while 12% say they consume them daily. The most common reasons given were a desire for an energy boost, cited by 51%, and taste, mentioned by 45%.

The findings also suggest the market has expanded sharply in recent years. Safefood said there are now 77 energy drink products available in Ireland, compared with 39 in 2015 and 42 in 2019. Larger formats are also more common: 55% of the drinks surveyed in 2026 were sold in 500 ml cans, up from 38% in 2019, while the share of 250 ml cans dropped from 60% to 37% over the same period. The Irish Times reported that some products now contain as much as 70 grams of sugar per serving, or about 17.5 teaspoons.

Although sugar levels have risen, caffeine remains a central concern. Safefood said the average drink contains 115 mg of caffeine per serving, roughly equivalent to 1.4 espressos, with some products reaching 200 mg, or about 2.5 espressos. The organisation also said awareness of the drinks’ potential downsides is widespread, with 97% of those surveyed recognising they can affect sleep, concentration and mood, especially among children and young people. Even so, the research suggests that awareness alone has not been enough to curb consumption.

Safefood chief executive Dr Joanne Uí Chrualaoich said the drinks were particularly worrying because they offer no nutritional benefit. She noted that the sugar tax introduced in 2018 had prompted some manufacturers to reformulate products, but said the wider range of drinks now available showed the scale of the market’s growth. Safefood’s earlier review in 2016 found 39 products on sale in Ireland, up from 10 in 2002, and warned at the time about the lack of age restrictions and the health implications of caffeine intake.

The policy debate has now moved closer to legislation. Minister for Public Health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said the new evidence would help shape measures to protect health across Ireland. "These findings will help inform evidence-based measures to protect and improve the health of people across Ireland," she said. A Bill dealing with energy drinks is already at second stage in the Seanad and is due to return in November, while Safefood says its research is intended to inform decisions on possible age limits, tax changes and other public health measures.

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