Although the ban on the sale of energy drinks to those under 18 has been in effect in Poland since 2024, initial research suggests that its real impact on the habits of young people may be less than expected. What does the latest data show?
Is the ban on the sale of energizers to young people working? There are already first data
Published Nov. 4, 2025 13:41
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Does banning the sale of energy drinks to young people really work? In 2024, Poland introduced legislation restricting access to energy drinks to minors. This was supposed to be a response to the growing popularity of these products among young people and concerns about their health. To assess the first effects of the regulation, a team of experts from the National Institute of Public Health PZH - State Research Institute, under the direction of Regina Wierzejska, PhD, conducted a survey of nearly 1,700 teenagers aged 12-17 from three provinces: Mazowieckie, Łódzkie and Lubelskie.
Although the ban was supposed to reduce consumption, the survey results show only a small change. In the month preceding the survey, as many as 41% of students said they drank energizers. In high schools, the percentage was even higher - 47.1%, while in elementary schools it was 21.6%. Significantly, more than 10% of teenagers drink them daily or several times a week.
In practice, it turns out that the regulations are easy to circumvent. Nearly 60% of respondents said that the ban on the sale of energizers poses no problem in obtaining them. More often than not, purchases are mediated by adults - mainly older colleagues. Equally disturbing is how rarely vendors actually require proof of customers' ages. Of teens attempting to buy a drink on their own in a store, only 19.3% were always asked for the document.
Experts stress that the introduction of the ban has only marginally reduced the consumption of energizers by teenagers. According to the report's authors, it is necessary to strengthen educational activities aimed at teenagers, parents and schools. At the same time, the researchers point out that the results come from three provinces, so it is too early to make nationwide conclusions about the effectiveness of the regulation.
The publication was prepared under the editorship of Regina Wierzejska, PhD, professor at NIZP PZH - PIB.
Source: NIZP PZH - PIB
