According to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) research, children in the UK consume more energy drinks than any other country in Europe. In March, most UK supermarkets voluntarily banned to sell them to under-16s following concerns about the effect they were having on children’s health and behaviour, due to their high sugar and caffeine content.
If you’re a parent, what have been your concerns with your children and energy drinks? What do you think of a ban? If you buy energy drinks, what effect do they have on you and why do you think they’re so popular? Or, perhaps you used to buy them but stopped due to the impact it was having on your health?
Feel free to comment on the subject of energy drinks in the comments section below. There is no right or wrong. Go on, have your say!
No
ReplyDeleteHere's my take on it.
We can't simply ban a product because it has a negative effect on under 16's, if that was the case we would have to take that approach to a vast number of products.
For example, games consoles are also believed to contribute to health and behaviour problems, should the government then put a ban on them for under 16's?
I think there tends to be a trend over the last few years to impose ridiculous restrictions. Ban this, Sugar Tax that, does it really tackle the underlying issue? Time will tell.
Another aspect to consider is how would you even begin to police it. Ok, so you need ID to buy it you might say, does that really work? Does it work with underage drinking?
We could fine or impose legal action against vendors who sell to under 16's, but then who pays for that burden?
With my argument you might think I'm actually happy for under 16's to carry on drinking energy drinks but you'd be wrong. I think the objective is correct, kids don't need energy drinks, I just think the implementation of a ban isn't necessarily the best way to go about it.
What about education? after all, knowledge is power. I don’t mean we should just educate children that's just half the battle we need to educate the parents too.
Surely as parent you would rather your children made an informed correct decision rather than uneducated poor decision or simply be dictated to no.
Morning James. Some great comments there, measured and thought provoking. That’s what the blog can be for us, where everybody’s viewpoints are listened to, respected, challenged sometimes (in a non combative way!), or agreed with. All members of the class will develop their confidence to contribute and I’m looking forward to comments as they come in. Hope you have a great weekend and let’s hear some responses to
ReplyDeleteJames’ thoughts. What say you?
I agree with james, under agers still manage to get alcohol and tobacco through other people buying it for them. I think the kids need to be taught the effect it has on their body.
DeleteAgreed!
DeleteAgree with James with what he is saying I remeber being id for red bull 7 years ago before it was a big thing. My opinion is why do kids need energy drinks I feel this makes them more hyper parents stopped giving their kids Smarties due to kids being hyper on them why would they willing let them drink them. I as a parent do not buy energy drinks for my kids and can only hope they will not drink them because someone else had bought them
ReplyDeleteYes, it’s an interesting subject because I see so many students drinking them, daily. Sometimes many cans a day. I never comment as it isn’t my business, but I do often wonder if students (often younger learners) are defying their parents when at college? It’s an important issue and education and guidance would help the situation potentially.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but i also think it cant be a bad thing making them harder to buy. Personally i dont like them my husband used to drink them daily and his heart was beating so fast he had to stop taking them. I genuinly think uou can become very addicted to them
ReplyDeleteYes, I don’t think there’s any doubt about their addictive qualities. I’ve never tried one. Unlikely to start now I guess!
ReplyDeleteGood points there.Personally I think educating kids and their parents is a waste of time. Haven't there been campaigns, adverts, booklets, programmes about dangers of smoking but people still choose to continue? I think some of these addictions with energy drinks and others vices are learned from parents and communities' we live in or come from. How many times have you seen parents share cigarettes with their kids? I have.(Back to energy drinks)..Who really needs energy drinks? If there isnt a genuine reason for them to be on the shelf, then they should be banned for everyone. If thats too drastic then they should probably consider the 0% alcohol concept of having the taste but not the bad stuff in it.
ReplyDeleteSome good points here. Does anyone think they are more addictive or more harmful than normal high sugary drinks and why ?
ReplyDeleteIf not should the likes of Coke or Irn Bru be banned too ?
I've never heard of a Coke or Irn bru high but certainly an energy drink one. Its reported that in teenagers mixing energy drinks with alcohol has the same effect on the brain as taking cocaine!!Bear in mind that the brain of a teenager is still developing and matures typically at around age 25. Minus the alcohol, the high and steep fall, lethargy it causes in people, particarly teenagers and its addictive properties are enough cause for concern and ban the whole lot. Thats unrealistic I know as Red bull and Monster are amongst big sponsors worldwide..
ReplyDeleteI get what you are saying but that's maybe a different angle to what I was thinking of because you are then introducing an alcoholic factor to it.
DeletePeronally speaking I think all high sugar content drinks have simialr (but not equal) negative effects on our youths including the ones you mentioned. They all play havoc with energy levels, are atributed to weight gain and poor oral health.
I can't see them ever being banned, as you said they are a global brand but lets not forget they do offer certain people benefits if not abused.
Great points there James on oral hygiene and weight gain.im in the process of a "tactical reload"..so will be back with more!!
DeleteI'm intrigued Sim "tactical relaod" has cpatured my attention
DeleteThis is what the blog posts are all about. Commentary, counterpoint, agreement, reasoned reflections and open lines of communication. Keep it up. Communication by definition is dynamic. And everybody’s opinion matters. Great stuff.
ReplyDelete