Professor calls for energy drinks ban for kids

Faroese authorities should follow Norway’s lead in banning the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.

So says the former head of the Faroese public health board, Magni Mohr, professor in exercise physiology.

“This age limit makes good sense, and we should consider a similar ban here in the Faroes,” he says. A growing body of research suggests that the ingredients in these drinks activate the sympathetic nervous system, which helps the body activate its ‘fight-or-flight’ response.

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“These drinks elevate the blood pressure and the heart rate for no real reason – i.e. the drinks prepare the body for a fight that will not really take place,” he says.

“Overconsumption of energy drinks can lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety and stress. I think it would be wise to impose limits on the sale of these drinks, especially for children and adolescents.”

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.