Call for more research into impact of energy drinks on pupil behaviour

It is working with the national drug and alcohol recovery charity Swanswell and the campaign is to lobby for the government to commission independent research into energy drink use and the long-term effects on health.

The partnership was confirmed last month as the NASUWT met for its annual conference in Birmingham during Easter.

It comes after the NASUWT’s annual Big Question Survey this year found that 13 per cent of its members cite caffeine and energy drinks as among the drivers of poor pupil behaviour.

Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and sugar but the NASUWT cites a recent European study which found that nearly one in five children who have tried energy drinks think they are the same as cola. However, a 500ml bottle of cola has almost 40mg of caffeine whereas the same amount of an energy drink has around 160mg of caffeine. The union says that national guidelines on recommended consumption levels are needed to help tackle the problems.