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Teachers in the UK are urging schools to ban the sales of energy drinks to students under 16 years old.
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers has raised concerns about children’s energy drink consumption, which can lead to poor behavior such as anxiety, irritability, and reduced concentration.
A report by the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health (Fuse) revealed that children who are at least 10 years old consume energy drinks because these beverages can cost as low as 25 pence. In addition, these children feel that they would look tougher and fit in with their peers better if they take energy drinks.
It has been found that a 500ml can of energy drink usually contains around 160mg of caffeine, which exceeds the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) recommendation of no more than 105mg of daily caffeine intake for an 11-year-old. Nevertheless, children remain oblivious to the added stimulants these beverages contain and energy drinks remain all the rage for this market.
In 2016, a school in Scotland also put an energy drink ban into effect. Headteacher Melvyn Lynch said that some students were devouring energy drinks as early as breakfast. He added that based on past instances, students who consumed energy drinks were more likely to be involved in unfavorable situations at school.
Apart from poor behavior, energy drink consumption also has implications on children’s health. A female student from the UK, who started consuming around seven 500ml cans of energy drinks per day when she was 16, said that she lost weight, slept better, and actually gained more energy after she steered clear of energy drinks.