Skip to main content

UNESDA

X-twitter Linkedin Youtube
Members login
Menu Close
X-twitter Linkedin Youtube
Members login
Menu Close
X-twitter Linkedin Youtube

Members login

X-twitter Linkedin Youtube

Members login

Menu
X-twitter Linkedin Youtube
Members login
Menu Close

WHAT ARE ENERGY DRINKS?

Energy drinks are part of the soft drink category. They are functional beverages with a stimulating effect. They typically contain a unique combination of specific ingredients including caffeine, taurine, vitamins and other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect.

Energy drinks represent about 2.5% of the total European non-alcoholic beverages market (GlobalData, 2025).

UNESDA CODE FOR THE LABELLING AND MARKETING OF ENERGY DRINKS

Beyond the legal provisions, UNESDA members adhere to a number of additional voluntary provisions as set out in the UNESDA Code on the Labelling and Marketing of Energy Drinks. The UNESDA Code relates to the labelling and promotion of energy drinks, categorised by products exceeding 150mg of caffeine per litre as defined by EU Regulation 1169/2011. The term ‘energy drinks’ is used as the customary name of this beverage category as per Article 17 of EU Regulation 1169/2011.

The Code has been in place since 2010 and covers the labelling and marketing of energy drinks by all UNESDA members. Key elements of the Code include:

 

Labelling:

  • Placement on pack of an additional advisory statement: “Consume moderately” or similar wording based on consumer understanding.
  • Labels of energy drinks will not promote the mixing with alcohol or make any claims that the consumption of alcohol together with energy drinks counteracts the effects of alcohol.
  • The labelling of energy drinks will also comply with the principles for the sales and marketing as outlined below.

 

Sales and marketing:

  • When promoting the benefits of energy drinks and their ingredients, no claims will be made on alcohol together with energy drinks.
  • Energy drinks are functional beverages and not sports drinks. Although normal consumption of energy drinks also provides water to the body, energy drinks will not be marketed as sports beverages which deliver a rehydration benefit.
  • No marketing communications concerning energy drinks will be placed in any media with an audience of which more than 30% is under 13 years of age.
  • Samplings of energy drinks will not be conducted in the close proximity of primary and secondary schools or other institutions taking care of this age group.

 

Off labels (eg through websites or leaflets) the industry will provide comprehensive information to consumers about energy drinks, their responsible consumption and their characteristic ingredients, including how their caffeine content relates to other caffeine-containing foods and beverages.

Read the UNESDA Code

ARE ENERGY DRINKS SAFE?

Energy drinks have been on the market for more than 35 years and they are consumed safely and enjoyed by consumers worldwide. The safety and efficacy of their key ingredients has been assessed and confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which has issued several scientific opinions related to ingredients contained in energy drinks:

 

BfR study in adolescents: Key findings

In August 2025, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published the results from a large-scale study on long-term high consumption of energy drinks and cardiovascular risk in adolescents (“EDKAR study”). This research concluded that regular consumption of energy drinks has no relevant consequences on heart health. In its press release, BfR highlights:

‘Adolescents who consumed large amounts of energy drinks over a period of at least one year did not differ from adolescents who did not consume such drinks at all in terms of blood pressure, heart rate or heart structure.’

‘The evaluation showed that in the adolescents studied here, chronically high energy drink consumption had no effect on heart health. No statistically significant and/or clinically relevant differences were found between chronic high consumers and the control group in the parameters examined.’

It should also be noted regarding high consumption of energy drinks that, according to existing data and also the results of the EDKAR study, the overwhelming majority of adolescents consume energy drinks only in moderate amounts.

HOW MUCH CAFFEINE DO ENERGY DRINKS CONTAIN?

Caffeine is one of the world’s most thoroughly tested ingredients. It is considered safe by food safety authorities around the globe including EFSA, and enjoyed by millions of people every day.

In its 2015 scientific opinion on the safety of caffeine, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed safe daily caffeine intakes for various population groups: i.e. up to 3 mg per kg of body weight for children and adolescents (3-18 years) and up to 400 mg for adults (200 mg for pregnant and breastfeeding women). To contextualise this, it is interesting to note how the caffeine in energy drinks relates to coffee and tea:

  • Energy drinks typically contain 80mg of caffeine per 250ml – equivalent to an espresso coffee.
  • A mug of filter coffee typically contains 90mg of caffeine.
  • A mug of tea typically contains 50mg of caffeine.
  • So that consumers can make informed purchases, EU law (Food Information Regulation 1169/2011) requires all drinks containing over 150mg/l of caffeine to display ‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’ in the same field of vision as the name of the beverage, followed by the caffeine content expressed in mg per 100ml.

WHY IS TAURINE USED IN ENERGY DRINKS?

Taurine is a sulphur-containing amino acid which is not incorporated into proteins, but does play a role in many important physiological functions, including retinal and neurological development, osmoregulation, modulation of cellular calcium levels and immune function.

In healthy humans, dietary foodstuffs are the main sources of taurine, however taurine can be synthesised widely amongst species including human. Approximately 0.1% of the total human bodyweight comes from taurine.

Taurine is one of the main ingredients in energy drinks. In 2009 and 2015, in line with numerous health authorities across the world, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – which is the risk assessment body for food and feed safety in the European Union – concluded that the exposure of taurine at levels presently used in energy drinks is not a safety concern.

 

Current water challenges

We cannot deny the current water challenges our world is facing. We are experiencing increased water scarcity, with demands for safe, usable water exceeding supply in many areas, including in Europe. 

  • Freshwater use has been growing by about 1% per year since the 1980s and as water demand is expected to continue increasing at a similar rate until 2050, this will account for an increase of 20 to 30% above the current level of water use1.
  • This increase in water demand is leading to a reduction of renewable water resources of 24% per capita in Europe2. 
  • Around 30% of the European population lives in areas with permanent water stress and up to 70% live in areas with seasonal water stress during summer3.
  • Europe’s aquatic ecosystems are severely degraded: only 17% of protected river, lake, alluvial, and riparian habitats are in good conservation status and 90% of protected wetland habitats are classified as poor or bad4.
  • Globally, 85% of wetlands have been lost in the last 300 years, with more than 50% lost since 19905. This is particularly critical as wetlands play an important role in filtering water and removing pollutants, as well as providing shelter to wildlife and capturing carbon.

 

This situation entails severe risks for the world’s population. 

  • For the last decade, the World Economic Forum has placed water-related risks among the world’s top five in its annual Global Risks Report. 
  • Water-related disasters have also dominated the list of disasters over the past 50 years and account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters6.
  • Nearly 95% of infrastructure loss and damage reported between 2010 to 2019 were due to water-related disasters7. 
  • More frequent and intensive flooding has cost lives and livelihoods across Europe, while at the same time, more than 50% of the continent has, in recent years, been affected by extreme drought conditions, which also breed a range of negative social, economic and human outcomes8.

A situation driven by a combination of factors

The deterioration of the natural water cycle stems from a confluence of factors: growing urbanisation, growing populations, increased consumption, poor management, pollution, lack of or damaged infrastructure, and climate change.  

Agriculture was responsible for 59% of total freshwater use in Europe in 20179, while industrial and domestic uses are the main drivers of increasing water demand. Indeed, as economies industrialise, populations urbanise and water supply and sanitation systems expand. 

Additionally, rising temperatures and more extreme weather patterns are causing more droughts and flooding. Climate variability is also bringing more uncertainty as to the availability, predictability and geographical distribution of water. Water and climate change are inextricably linked. From unpredictable rainfall patterns to shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, floods and droughts – most impacts of climate change come down to water (UN Water). 

1 Chart of Global Fresh Water Use 1901-2014 – The Global Education Project

2 Water use in Europe — Quantity and quality face big challenges — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)Chart of Global Fresh Water Use 1901-2014 – The Global Education Project

3 Water stress is a major and growing concern in Europe — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)

4 Europe’s state of water 2024: the need for improved water resilience | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)Water stress is a major and growing concern in Europe — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)

5 Innovative Solutions Needed for Wetlands in Crisis – SDG Knowledge Hub (iisd.org)

6 Water Resources Management Overview: Development news, research, data | World Bank Innovative Solutions Needed for Wetlands in Crisis – SDG Knowledge Hub (iisd.org)

7 Water risks and resilience (undrr.org)

8 Risks and solutions: how climate change is impacting our water and health | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)

9 Water scarcity conditions in Europe (Water exploitation index plus) | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)Risks and solutions: how climate change is impacting our water and health | European Environment Agency’s home page (europa.eu)