A small West Australian town will ban people under 18 from buying energy drinks as part of a four-month research trial.
Doctors in the South West community of Bridgetown hope the move will improve the mental health of young people and reduce anti-social behaviour.
Researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute will be conducting surveys with young people, parents and retail outlets before and after the trial and will use a nearby community with similar demographics as the control study.
Bridgetown GP Sarah Youngson said she had seen first hand the impact that energy drinks were having on the town's young people.
"It had been brought to my attention that there were some issues around town with some antisocial behaviour, young people being a little bit impulsive and a bit erratic," she said.
"And certainly, in my own practice working one on one with young people, I'd noticed an increase in insomnia and anxiety that was definitely associated with energy drink use."
Young people more at risk
Dr Youngson said energy drinks could have impacts on heart and cardiovascular systems and cause high blood pressure.
"Young people are much more susceptible to the effects of caffeine and when we look at their brain development, they don't necessarily have the capacity to make rational decisions around the use of things like this," she said.
"Some of my young patients come in drinking an energy drink and say to me, 'I can't get to sleep till three in the morning', and then they are unable to get out of bed to go to school in the morning.
"They need another energy drink to just get through school but then that was leading to disengagement from school and perhaps some disruption in the classroom."
A Bridgetown cafe is one of about eight businesses joining the study.
Owner Laurel Keenan said she would treat it the same as selling cigarettes or alcohol.
"We will ask for an ID if they look like they're under the age of 18," she said.
"We can refuse to sell them an energy drink and if there's an issue, we just explain that the town is part of a study.
"I personally don't like energy drinks and I think understanding the health impact they have on children, because it's so full of sugar and caffeine, is a must."
Mixed reactions from youth
While many of the town's young people understand the health risks associated with energy drinks, 16-year-old Hans Bouwman said he enjoyed the flavour.
"I mean, I probably can live without it, but it just kind of it sucks I guess," he said.
Sophie Turner, also 16, said she didn't drink energy drinks and believed children didn't need that much sugar and energy.
"It's good if you're using them wisely but if you're just sitting at home drinking them, there's no health benefit to that," she said.
Paris Crittenden, 12, had mixed feelings about the ban.
"I'm not mad about it, but I'm not super happy about it," she said.
"I'm kind of in the middle because I do like them, but they're actually not the best for you."
Wellbeing more important
Ms Keenan said she didn't think the ban would impact greatly on her business but she would still participate in the trial if it did.
"I think you've got to outweigh the impact on cost," she said.
"I mean, isn't a child's wellbeing more important than the dollar you make?
"That's how I look at it."
With a population of fewer than 3,000 people and the nearest town located 30km away, Dr Youngson said it wouldn't be easy for young people to break the new rules in Bridgetown.
"Once a young person is in town, unless they've got their licence, so they're over 17, they really can't drive anywhere else or go anywhere else to get an energy drink," she said.
"If they were in a suburb in the city that was banning energy drinks, they could easily hop on a bus and go elsewhere and grab an energy drink.
"So we're really lucky in the community that all the retailers have come on board and that we're able to contain the use of energy drinks in our community."
