Energy-drink-free March at the City of Jyväskylä’s youth centres

During March, the City of Jyväskylä’s youth centres will run an energy-drink-free March campaign called Möfötön maaliskuu, which aims to encourage young people and youth workers to reduce or completely stop their consumption of energy drinks for one month. The campaign, which received positive feedback last year, is now being organised again.

Bringing and consuming energy drinks at the City of Jyväskylä’s youth centres is prohibited for both young people and youth workers throughout March. During the campaign, open discussions will be held at the youth centres about energy drink consumption and its effects on health, wellbeing and alertness. Youth workers will share factual information on the topic and organise quizzes and other small-scale activities and competitions for young people.

“March is now Möfö-free. This is a good moment to reflect more broadly on energy drink consumption: how much money is spent on them, how they affect health and energy levels, and whether there might be better alternatives. Come and talk about it – or even vent a little – at the youth centres,” encourages the campaign’s initiator, youth worker Valtteri Kärkkäinen.

Young people are encouraged to take part in the challenge together and support one another throughout the month. The aim of the campaign is also to spark reflection on energy drink use beyond the youth centres and to provide a safe environment to discuss the topic together with adults.

Möfö is a nickname commonly used for the Megaforce energy drink.