Ejercicio Grupo A - 6 · Inglés PAU Canarias Junio (Humanidades) 2024

More evidence to ban energy drinks for children

The sale of all energy drinks to young people and children in the UK should be banned, says a review of

the latest evidence on their effects on health. The study highlighted links to some risks, such as anxiety,

stress and suicidal thoughts, that had not been found previously. Additionally, the research found that boys

are more likely than girls to consume energy drinks.

5 Now, using this review, 40 health-related organisations have written a letter to the Health Secretary to

repeat the call for stricter restrictions on energy drinks. “Many of these drinks contain high amounts of

caffeine, as much as between 160-200mg per can in some cases, which doubles the amount found in an

average cup of coffee (about 80mg depending on the strength),” the letter says.

Most UK supermarkets have introduced a voluntary ban on selling energy drinks to under-16s. Besides,

10 the drinks’ packaging often says they are not suitable for children. Yet, under-18s can easily buy them

from corner shops. It is a huge and growing market, up to a third of UK children drink them weekly.

Dr Amelia Lake, professor of public health nutrition, who led the review, looked at 57 recent studies of

energy drinks and their impact on young people's health in multiple countries. “The evidence is clear:

energy drinks are harmful to the mental and physical health of children and young people, as well as their

15 behaviour and education,” she said.

Sleep problems, poor performance at school and an unhealthy diet were also closely related to the use of

energy drinks. Dr Lake said that the findings were the best available evidence, although their research

could not prove that energy drinks directly caused the health harms. Energy drinks may be linked to health

harms because those who consume them frequently are more likely to be unhealthy in other ways – having

20 habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.

Official guidance says people should consume no more than 3mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight:

that’s the caffeine equivalent of two espressos in a large can of energy drink. High caffeine content is not

recommended for children or pregnant and breastfeeding women. Energy drinks also have a high sugar

content, which can damage children’s teeth and contribute to obesity if they already eat unhealthily.

25 Some countries, such as Latvia and Lithuania, have already banned the sale of energy drinks to children,

but it is too soon to tell what difference the move has made. Other countries like Finland and Poland could

adopt similar measures. Health authorities in England and Scotland have not taken any official decision

yet.

Fragment adapted from the BBC, January 2024

6. WRITE a composition of about 120-150 words on the following topic [3 points]:

Is banning things that are not good for our health an effective solution? Give your opinion.