Energy drinks causing crisis in children’s tooth decay

The British Dental Association, along with teachers, the Daily Mirror and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver are urging the government to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under the age of 16 after a report shows a significant increase in tooth decay in young children.
Containing up to 20 teaspoons of sugar and 160mg of caffeine per 500ml, these drinks are causing children’s oral health, weight and concentration in school to slowly deteriorate, with Jamie Oliver likening the effect to drugs; “‘We have to do this, because these drinks are turning our kids into addicts.”
Since the launch of the campaign, many retailers have voluntarily started asking customers for ID when buying energy drinks, and the BDA is continuing to put pressure on ministers to invest more time in reducing oral health inequalities and focus on prevention.