UK advises against drinks with sweeteners for younger children

07 April 2025

The BBC reported that the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) from the UK is advising that younger children should not be given drinks containing artificial sweeteners. These sweeteners, such as aspartame, stevia, saccharin, and sucralose, were developed as substitutes for sugar, providing a sweet taste with few or no calories, but they can perpetuate the preference for sweet drinks. Consuming too much sugar increases the risk of tooth decay and long-term health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

The SACN recommends that preschool children should become accustomed to drinking water instead, as sweet drinks could create a habit in children, which can then be difficult to overcome. According to SACN’s assessment, while using sweeteners can help reduce weight gain and may help older children in cutting down on sugar, this reduction in free sugars should be accompanied by other positive dietary changes.