Energy drinks face new restrictions abroad: Could the US be next in line?

The move comes amid mounting pressure from parents, teachers and health experts who blame the drinks for mood swings, panic attacks, restlessness and even falling grades.

A 2024 study published in Public Health found that youth consumption was linked to ADHD-like symptoms, suicidal thoughts, heart issues, insulin resistance and more.

Government data show that about 100,000 children in the U.K. consume at least one high-caffeine energy drink daily, with a third of teens and nearly a quarter of preteens drinking them weekly. 

A typical energy drink can contain the same amount of caffeine as two espressos, Streeting said. 

Similar measures are under consideration in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while countries including Lithuania, Latvia, Turkey and Sweden already have restrictions in place.

In the United States, the drinks are not regulated yet at the federal level. The state of Connecticut, however, enacted a law earlier this year that prohibits the sale of energy drinks with at least 80 milligrams of caffeine per 9 fluid ounces to anyone under 16. 

New York, South Carolina and Oklahoma have introduced bills proposing the prohibition of energy drink sales to anyone under 18.

"Influencers make these drinks look fun, cool or even necessary to perform well, but that's far from the truth," said Dr. Stacie Stephenson, a functional and integrative medicine expert in Chicago and member of the American Nutrition Association. 

The British Soft Drinks Association said in a statement that its members "do not market or promote the sale of energy drinks to under 16s and label all high-caffeine beverages as 'not recommended for children.'"

The statement continued, "As with all government policy, it's essential that any forthcoming regulation is based on a rigorous assessment of the evidence that's available."

About 40% to 50% of kids in the U.S. consume energy drinks, according to functional medicine provider Austin Lake of Tulsa, Oklahoma. That high dose of caffeine can linger in the body for seven to 10 hours, disrupting sleep and sometimes forcing kids to rely on stimulants to get through the next day, he said.

Health experts in the U.S. warn that some children are at particular risk.

"While all caffeinated beverages can cause adverse effects, energy drinks pose additional risks due to their higher and often unregulated caffeine content, the presence of other stimulants - taurine, guarana - and patterns of rapid, episodic consumption that are more common among youth," Kane added.

The acids in the drinks, which generally come from citric acid and carbonic acid, making them fizzy, can soften and erode enamel, Hoss told Fox News Digital.

"They hit teeth with a one-two punch: acid and sugar," he said.