Teenagers fell in love with energy drinks years ago, but now parents see the harmful effects
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Evidence is growing that the caffeinated, sugary drinks are harmful to children’s wellbeing.
By Susie Mesure
For many teenagers, energy drinks offer a cheap buzz, an instant early-morning boost when they need to be at school but would rather be in bed. Better still, are those such as G Fuel that promise the elixir of endurance and enhanced focus for virtual battles into the early hours.
Little wonder that up to one third of UK children, mostly young teens, consume at least one energy drink a week, with some reaching for one almost daily, according to a Government-funded study published in BMJ Open.
Formulations vary but the drinks all come loaded with caffeine and often sugar, providing a palatable alternative to a simple cup of coffee. And all for as little as 50p for a can of Bulldog Power, a Dutch drink that pledges to deliver ‘British Spirit’, at your local corner store, or at least at mine in south London. (Several supermarkets refuse to sell the drinks to under-16s.)
Why fret ...
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