In New Zealand, cafe culture is hard to avoid. Our language about caffeine – “I need a coffee or I will die” – is extreme.
A 2019 University of Auckland study found that about 75 percent of respondents consumed caffeine every day. It’s no wonder kids are curious about coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks.
A New Zealand-specific study in 2021 found that coffee and tea contributed 32 percent of the caffeine intake for five to 12-year-olds and 48 percent for 13 to 19-year-olds.
Soft drinks were the second biggest contributor followed by all things chocolate as well as energy drinks. Surprisingly, some pastries, cereals and cakes can have “hidden” caffeine.
