Caffeine toxicity from energy drink consumption is increasing in Australia, particularly among adolescents, according to new research published today in the Medical Journal of Australia. The scientists behind the research, Dr Naren Gunja, a clinical senior toxicologist at the University of Sydney, and Dr Jared Brown, senior poisons specialist at the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre, say the figures would justify tightening of regulation for caffeinated energy drinks in Australia. Their... ...Read more »

The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), has called for a ban on the sale of premixed alcohol and energy drink (AED) products in Australia. Research into consumption habits, commissioned by FARE and undertaken by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, found that young people in Australia are regularly consuming between three and five alcohol and energy drinks a night, and some drinking as many as ten. Turning Point’s lead researcher, Amy Pennay, said that mixing alcohol and energy... ...Read more »

The Canadian Government has announced it will reform the way it regulates energy drinks in Canada. Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages characterised by the addition of ‘energy enhancing’ ingredients. These may include a number of water-soluble B vitamins, amino acids and other substances, and caffeine. The proposed Canadian legislation includes: A cap on the amount of caffeine that can be included in an energy drink at 180 mg per single serving. In addition to current labels that... ...Read more »

The 2010 Nielsen Convenience and Impulse Report suggests a ‘softened’ convenience and impulse market, with a modest sales growth of 3.3%, and sales down by 0.5% from the quarter to the same period last year. “While the usual suspects including carbonated beverages, ice cream, snack foods, cigarettes, cereals and nutritious snacks continued to perform well, the growth for these categories were off-set by major declines in communications, magazines/newspapers and fruit juices and... ...Read more »

Men’s Health has released a run-down of the 20 unhealthiest drinks currently available in America in their popular Eat This Not That section. The feature compares drinks across a variety of categories – including functional drinks, smart water, energy drinks, coffee, smoothies and shakes – to snackfoods with equivalent calories. Topping the list at number 1 is the Coldstone PB&C 24fl oz (just over 700ml) thickshake, which weighs in at 2010 calories – the entire recommended... ...Read more »

Concerns that regulations are tightening on venues come after The West Australian today reports that a pub in Perth’s city centre will not be permitted to serve alcohol mixed with energy drinks in the closing two hours of operation on weekends. The ban comes from WA Liquor Commission and could be extended to other venues. The pub, Impact Bar has been banned from serving alcohol mixed with energy drinks between midnight and its 2am closing time on weekends. The restriction came with the pub’s... ...Read more »

Global energy drink volumes increased by 2% in 2008 to 3.9 billion litres, almost double the 2.0 billion litres sold in 2003, with Australia a global leader – according to the latest report from food and drink consultancy Zenith International. Average global growth over the past five years has been 14% a year.”Energy drinks remain a dynamic segment in the soft drinks market, with double figure rises in most regions,” Zenith Market Intelligence Director Gary Roethenbaugh explained.... ...Read more »

Five energy drinks have been removed from New South Wales shelves following investigations highlighting caffeine levels more than 30 per cent above the legal limit. In all, of the 70 drinks tested, only 16 (or 23%) complied with the Food Standards Code, while 8 had caffeine levels more than 30 per cent above the legal limit. The NSW Food Authority has contacted the makers of the three more than 30 per cent above the limit that have not yet be banned to ask them to remedy the situation. The Authority... ...Read more »

The latest research from the UK has shone light on the growth of sports and energy drinks, with sales continuing to thrive. After healthy growth of 51% between 2004 and 2008, sales of sports and energy drinks continue to surge, according to Mintel. Even in 2008, as economic pressures put the skids on previously growing non-alcoholic markets such as smoothies and bottled water, this market grew by 10% from £855 million in 2007 to reach £941 million (A$1.6b) in 2008. In 2009, for the first time,... ...Read more »

The New South Wales Government is planning on removing two energy drinks with very high caffeine levels from sale. Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the two products reportedly have up to ten times the allowed caffeine levels. “It’s simply unacceptable that these products, clearly marketed at youths, have appeared in the market so the Government has taken immediate action to get these illegal products off the shelves,” Mr Macdonald said. “The Food Authority is... ...Read more »