From: Jessica Almy [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2015 9:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: Hazen, Carol
Subject: UConn Rudd Center - NEW RELEASE ENERGY DRINKS

 

The Rudd Center has released a new paper on children and energy drinks.  Please see below for the major findings, model social media posts, and a copy of the press release.

Jessica Almy
Senior Nutrition Policy Counsel
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Direct line: 202.777.8358
----- Forwarded by Jessica Almy/Program/CSPI on 03/26/2015 09:51 AM -----

 
The study examined existing research on sales and marketing of energy drinks, their consumption by youth under 18 and growing evidence that they can be harmful and may lead to negative health, social, emotional and behavioral outcomes, especially when consumed by youth.
 
Our major findings about marketing:

·         In contrast to declining sales for most other types of sugary drinks, sales of energy drinks increased by 53 percent from 2007 to 2012, and manufacturers continue to market these products directly to youth.

·         In 2011, 35 percent of eighth-graders reported consuming an energy drink at least once in the past year and 18 percent consumed more than one on those days.

·         Energy drink brands spent $282 million in advertising in all media in 2012, 2.5 times the amount spent in 2008, while TV ads viewed by youth doubled during this period.

·         Red Bull and SK Energy shots purchased TV advertising during TV programming and social media viewed disproportionately more often by adolescents, while children saw more TV ads for 5-Hour Energy shots in 2010 than for any other beverage except Capri Sun.
 
Our major findings about energy drinks as a public health threat:

·         The number of hospital emergency room visits by 12- to 17-year-olds attributable to energy drink consumption increased from 1,145 in 2007 to 1,499 in 2011. Deaths also have been reported.

·         Calls to poison centers related to energy drinks increased from 672 in 2010 to 3,028 in 2013, with 61 percent of the calls concerning children 18 and younger. The reported effects included seizures, delirium, faster than normal heart rate, and irregular heart rhythm – all consistent with caffeine toxicity.

·         Energy drink consumption by youth is also associated with sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and other dangerous behaviors, such as substance abuse, violence and sexual risk taking.
 
Link to paper: http://nutritionreviews.oxfordjournals.org/content/73/4/247
 
Model social media posts:
 
For Facebook:
 
A new Rudd Center study on the emerging evidence relating to energy drinks shows a growing public health threat to children under 18. http://bit.ly/1xvjNvv
 
Evidence reviewed by the Rudd Center on children and energy drinks found that children saw more TV ads for 5-Hour Energy in a year than for any other beverage except Capri Sun. http://bit.ly/1xvjNvv
 
A new Rudd Center study on children and energy drinks found that more than a third of 8th-graders reported consuming an energy drink at least once in 2011, and 18 percent consumed more than one on those days. http://bit.ly/1xvjNvv
 
For Twitter:
 
New study shows energy drinks a growing health threat to youth http://bit.ly/1xvjNvv
 
Calls to poison centers for children consuming energy drinks rising http://bit.ly/1xvjNvv
 
Energy drinks marketed to children 12 and up despite health threat http://bit.ly/1xvjNvv
 
 
Best,
Carol
 
Carol A. Hazen
Director of Advocacy Resources
Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity
Universtiy of Connecticut
1 Constitution Plaza, Suite 600
Hartford, CT 06103
860.380.1018