Six in ten young people in the Nordic countries consume energy drinks at least once a week, while more than one in five drink them daily, according to a study funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Finland stands out for the age at which consumption begins, with one in four Finnish respondents saying they started before turning 12.
The study surveyed 4,916 young people in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland about energy drinks and other sources of caffeine.
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Across the Nordic region, 39 per cent said they started consuming energy drinks at age 13 or younger. Only 16 per cent reported never drinking them.
Among Finnish respondents, a quarter said they started before age 12 and another third began at 12 or 13. Finnish participants were also more likely than their Nordic peers to consume coffee and iced coffee.
The findings point to frequent consumption across the region. Almost half of respondents said there were occasions when they felt unable to get through the day without an energy drink, while 15 per cent reported discomfort when they did not consume one.
Thirty per cent of respondents aged 15 to 19 reported health effects linked to energy drinks, including sleep problems, heart palpitations and dizziness. One in three said they wanted to reduce their consumption.
Taste was the main reason for drinking energy drinks, cited by 73 per cent. Some 51 per cent said they consumed them for energy and 34 per cent to stay awake. Boys reported more frequent consumption than girls.
“The study sends a strong warning signal that far too many young people are dependent on energy drinks to get through day-to-day life,” Nordic Council of Ministers Secretary General Karen Ellemann said. She linked the consumption patterns to concerns about mental health and education.
Sweden recorded the highest consumption among the countries studied. Some 28 per cent of Swedish respondents consumed energy drinks daily and 75 per cent did so at least weekly.
Denmark recorded the lowest rates, at 14 per cent daily and 43 per cent weekly. In Norway, 18 per cent reported daily consumption and just over half drank energy drinks each week. Iceland recorded a weekly rate of 46 per cent, though researchers said the country's results should be treated with caution because of its smaller sample.
The Swedish Food Agency led the research with partners from public authorities across the Nordic countries. A second phase starting in autumn 2026 will involve youth panels in developing proposals to reduce consumption. Policy recommendations are scheduled for summer 2027.
HT
