Up to a third of children in the UK regularly consume some form of energy drink, which could impact on both their behaviour and health, says a new report.

The study, published by the British Medical Journal, reveals that worryingly high numbers of youngsters frequently enjoy the caffeinated and often sugar-laden drinks - which one Kent doctor has described as being 'as dangerous, if not more, than cigarettes'.

The investigation, by researchers at the University of York and University College London, was triggered after a 2018 government consultation proposed banning the sale of energy drinks to children - a move that has not yet been implemented.

But with only two current UK studies identified among the available evidence for putting the drinks further out of reach for under 18s, additional data was sought in order to ensure the information available was relevant to any new potential policies.

For the government-funded study researchers wanted to look at what type and how many energy drinks UK teens were getting through and what the potential impact might be on both their physical and mental health.

Energy drinks are often marketed as reducing tiredness and improving concentration as well as boosting energy, with an average 250 ml energy drink, says the report, containing a similar amount of caffeine to a 60 ml espresso.

Many of these drinks also contain other active ingredients, such as stimulants guarana and taurine and sugar, although sugar-free options are also often available.

Investigations found that between 13% and 67% of children worldwide had drunk energy drinks in the last year.

In the UK additional data suggested between 3% and 32% of youngsters in this country had an energy drink on at least one day of the week - with boys drinking more than girls and consumption also likely to rise with age.

But that consumption, says the detailed report, was also associated with more headaches, sleep problems, smoking, irritability and school exclusion, with frequent consumption - defined as drinking an energy drink on five or more days of the week - associated with poor mental and physical health, and overall poor wellbeing compared with those who didn’t consume energy drinks.

Researchers wrote: "These data support the idea that there is a link between drinking caffeinated energy drinks and poorer health and behaviour in children, although the cause is unclear."

They added: "There is weak but consistent evidence, from reviews and UK datasets, that poorer health and wellbeing is found in children who drink caffeinated energy drinks."

Lead author of the paper, Claire Khouja, from the University of York, added: “While more research is needed to track the effects of energy drinks on children who drink them, our research has uncovered consistent evidence of links between the regular consumption of these drinks and harmful effects on children’s overall wellbeing.

"Our study also indicates that children who are better informed about the contents of energy drinks, drink less, suggesting that an education campaign and/or more prominent warnings on packaging could reduce consumption."