Josefine Ericsson Waara's son went to a local store in Luleå to buy ice cream, but when she returned from work, she found him unwell. He and his friends had purchased energy drinks at the store, and he soon experienced heart palpitations, severe dizziness, and chest pressure. The boy, who takes ADHD medication, was affected for several hours, had difficulty sleeping, and could not attend school the next day.
According to Norrländska Socialdemokraten, Ericsson Waara said the store owner told her he would sell to anyone as long as competitors do. The owner also stated he would lose a lot of money if he stopped selling energy drinks to children, and her husband received the same response when he visited the store. There is currently no law prohibiting such sales in Sweden, only voluntary agreements not to sell to those under 15.
Energy drinks contain very high levels of caffeine.
Ericsson Waara wrote a Facebook post advocating for an 18-year age limit and started a petition, which drew both support and criticism. Many people contacted her with similar or worse stories, including children being sent by ambulance and even deaths. Her son has since recovered.
Medical experts warn of the risks. According to TV4 Nyheterna, doctor Marcus Olausson noted that energy drinks contain very high levels of caffeine. The Swedish Food Agency recommends that youth under 16 consume no more than 70 milligrams of caffeine daily, yet energy drinks can contain 120 to 200 milligrams, equivalent to two cups of coffee or six cans of cola, according to Dr.
As a small retailer, we cannot afford to be selective about who we sell to. The sale was not illegal.
Bracho-Sanchez. High caffeine intake can cause anxiousness, jitters, headaches, heart palpitations, and long-term abnormal heart rhythms, and it interferes with sleep, which is critical for developing brains. Experts advise that water is the best beverage for kids.
International incidents have intensified calls for restrictions. In New Brunswick, a 10-year-old girl suffered a seizure after drinking two large energy drinks, diagnosed as caffeine ingestion causing an elevated heart rate, according to hospital records and her mother, who is now calling for a federal ban on sales to minors. In Quebec, 15-year-old Zachary Miron died suddenly in January 2024, which Radio-Canada's Enquête team linked to a combination of Red Bull and ADHD medication.
He said he would sell to anyone as long as competitors do.
In Canada, momentum for a ban is growing. Twenty-one school organizations in Quebec are calling for a ban on sales to youth under 16, and a petition sponsored by Québec Solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard has garnered more than 19,500 signatures. Francis Côté, president of FQDE, noted that more than 20% of young people take psychostimulants, and many also consume energy drinks.
1 billion between 2018 and 2022, according to market research firm Euromonitor. A similar case in the UK involved an 11-year-old girl in Somerset who bought and consumed a Monster Energy drink before school without apparent adverse effects, but her mother criticized the newsagent. uk, the newsagent owner said that as a small retailer, they cannot afford to be selective about who they sell to and that the sale was not illegal, echoing the stance of the Swedish store owner.
Caffeine consumption among Swedish youth doubled between 2018 and 2023, according to the Swedish Food Agency. Sweden relies on voluntary agreements, such as a 15-year age recommendation, while Norway and Denmark have more robust legislative frameworks. The specific ADHD medication taken by Ericsson Waara's son and its interaction risk with caffeine remain unclear, as does the current status of her petition and any legislative progress in Sweden.
The long-term health outcomes for children who have experienced severe reactions are also unknown.