Sugar addiction: Irish top energy drinks’ league

The frontline in the battle to sustain healthy lifestyles, to encourage individuals to behave in a way that does not damage health or limit quality of life is never-ending. Once the evil of one product, tobacco say, is seen off another becomes the focus of attention. Tobacco ravaged western populations for decades but after long, difficult campaigns the focus has moved to sugar and, to a lesser degree, meat, because of the environmental impact of its industrialised production.

Huge sums were invested in campaigns to discourage smoking and alcohol misuse. Those efforts have had considerable, though not absolute success. However, our sweet tooth seems to defy all efforts to get us to reduce sugar use.

Euromonitor International has found that Irish people are among the world’s foremost users of energy drinks. This is an unwelcome honour, as it ensures that these high-sugar and caffine content drinks will in time undermine users’ health and further stretch health budgets.

The idea of penal taxes made a huge contribution to reducing smoking. It is time to apply that principle to these drinks.