Stop drinking energy drinks with hypnotherapy

Energy drinks are sold as a boost, but a lot of people end up needing them just to feel normal. One at the start of a shift becomes two. Then there’s a can mid afternoon to get through the slump, a bad night’s sleep, and another can first thing to make up for it.

If you want to stop drinking energy drinks, or cut right down, this page is for you. Most of what’s here applies to energy shots and pre-workout too.

The NHS puts a 250ml can of energy drink at about 80mg of caffeine, a little less than a cup of instant coffee, and bigger cans contain more (NHS, 2026). The government says around 100,000 children in England drink high-caffeine energy drinks every day, and it plans to ban their sale to under 16s in England from April 2027, subject to Parliament (GOV.UK, 2026).

Signs you're hooked on energy drinks

• You have one before you've eaten anything
• You can't get through the afternoon without one
• You buy multipacks and get through them faster than you planned
• You feel shaky or anxious, or your heart races, and a few hours later you crash
• Your sleep is poor, so you have another to wake up
• You get headaches or feel flat on days you go without

Why it's hard to stop

Energy drinks give you caffeine and, unless you choose a sugar-free one, a lot of sugar in one go. You get a lift, then a dip a few hours later, and the quickest way out of the dip is another can. Over time your body adapts to the caffeine, so you feel worse without it than you did before you started. If you drink them late in the day, your sleep suffers, you wake up tired and the cycle starts again.

Then there's the habit around the can: the shop on the way to work, the fridge at the petrol station, the gym bag, the long shift. Each one becomes a cue that your brain links with a lift. Those links run on autopilot, which is why simply deciding to stop often doesn't last past the first tired afternoon.

How hypnotherapy can help you give up energy drinks

In hypnosis you're relaxed and focused, which makes it easier to change the automatic link between a cue and reaching for a can. We work on the times you're most likely to buy one, and rehearse getting through them calmly. We also look at what the drink is really doing for you, such as getting you through long hours or giving you something to look forward to, and find other ways to meet that need.

Because energy drinks and poor sleep feed each other, we can work on winding down and sleeping better too. You'll still have to walk past the fridge yourself, and how quickly things change varies from person to person. What hypnotherapy can do is make that choice feel easier, so the first few weeks are less of a fight.

How to stop drinking energy drinks: things you can try today

• Count them. For a few days, note every can, shot and scoop of pre-workout, and check the caffeine on the label. Seeing the total is often a wake-up call.
• Cut down one can at a time. Drop one every few days rather than stopping overnight, so headaches and tiredness are easier to manage.
• Replace the afternoon can. Try cold water and ten minutes outside in daylight instead. A short walk can lift you through the slump.
• Set a cut-off time. The NHS advises no tea or coffee for at least 6 hours before bed, and the same makes sense for energy drinks.
• Don't keep a stash. If there are no cans at home, in the car or in your desk drawer, each one becomes a choice rather than a reflex.
• Eat regular meals. Running on caffeine and sugar instead of food makes the crash harder. Breakfast and lunch help you rely on the can less.

When to see your GP

Most people can cut down on energy drinks on their own. See your GP if you have palpitations, anxiety or poor sleep that doesn't settle as you cut down, or headaches that keep coming back. Call 999 if you get sudden chest pain that doesn't go away, or chest pain with sweating, sickness, light-headedness or breathlessness.

If you're relying on energy drinks to cope with stress or low mood, you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies for free in England. If the sugar is part of the pull, my sugar cravings page may help, and my caffeine page covers coffee, tea and pre-workout.

Common questions

Are sugar-free energy drinks better?

They cut out the sugar, which is better for your teeth and your weight, but the caffeine is often the same. If you rely on them to get through the day, the habit is the same too.

Is it illegal to sell energy drinks to under 16s?

Not yet in England. The government has confirmed it will ban the sale of energy drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to under 16s in England. The ban is intended to start in April 2027, subject to Parliament.

Will I feel tired when I stop?

For a while, you might. Your body has got used to the caffeine, so the first few days can feel flat. Cutting down slowly, eating regular meals and getting to bed earlier all help while your energy settles.

How many sessions will I need?

If you mainly reach for a can at the same times each day, one 90 minute session can work on those moments. If energy drinks are tangled up with long shifts, poor sleep or stress, three sessions let us tackle those as well. We can decide together on a consultation call.

How do sessions work?

We meet one to one over Zoom, so you can do it from home or between shifts. We plan each session around when and where you usually buy a can, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we'll talk through your energy drink habit and what would help, or take the free check first.

See all session options and prices

Written by Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist. Sources: NHS, Foods to avoid in pregnancy (caffeine amounts); GOV.UK, Children's health further protected with energy drinks ban; NHS, Insomnia; NHS, Chest pain. Checked October 2026.