Energy drinks

Highly caffeinated energy drinks have become increasingly popular, with packaging that is targeted at children and adolescents.

Consuming high levels of caffeine can cause serious side effects such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression as well as cardiovascular problems, heartburn, ulcers seizures and in rare cases even death.

It’s important to check the product label and be aware of how much caffeine you and your family are consuming per day.

As examples:

  • 375ml can of regular cola has 36.4mg of caffeine.
  • 50ml cup of espresso coffee has 145mg of caffeine.
  • 250ml can of formulated caffeinated beverage or energy drink has 80mg of caffeine.
  • 220ml cup of black tea has 50mg of caffeine.  

The recommended maximum daily intake of caffeine for:

  • Children and adolescents under the age of 18 is 3mg per kilogram of body weight per day (e.g. 40kg child x 3mg = 120mg per day).
  • Adults is 400mg per day (with maximum of 200mg a serve).
  • People who are pregnant or breastfeeding is 200mg per day.

For businesses and regulators

Energy drinks in South Australia that are non-compliant with the Food Standards Code are not permitted to be sold. 

For further information, read the Non-compliant energy drinks fact sheet (PDF 371KB).