CLIENT: Mandy Sacher
OUTLET: The Today Show
Renewed calls to ban energy drink sales to children under 16 in Australia are growing louder, following the UK government's landmark decision to make such a ban law across England from April 2027.
Paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher appeared on The Today Show and Nine News to share her concerns, arguing that Australia's current protections do not go far enough and that the risks of energy drinks to young people extend well beyond their caffeine content.
Sacher told Nine News that the newly launched range of McDonald’s Red Bull energy drink formulations are ultra-processed sweetened beverages loaded with artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners, with some products containing up to 12.5 teaspoons of sugar. She warned that consumption artificially stimulates young nervous systems, exacerbating already rising rates of anxiety, ADHD-like symptoms and depression among Australian teenagers, and called on parents to return to the basics, prioritising hydration, whole foods and sleep over quick-fix stimulants.