KIDS AND ENERGY DRINKS

My eight year old is chasing down the latest fad. He keeps asking for an energy drink. In July while grocery shopping I purchased one, a Mountain Dew flavored drink that was loaded with caffeine. I admit it gave me mental and physical stimulation for a period of time, not unlike a coffee.

The problem is that children as young as 10 are getting hooked on the buzz from these drinks. I have seen kids eat chocolate and talk about the chocolate rush and act silly. Most of which is just mental. Instead of water, juice or milk, some kids are drinking energy beverages loaded with sugar and caffeine.

I would not think about giving Aidan a coffee, why would I allow him to drink Red Bull! Yet energy drinks are flooding the market. They've become so popular that sales at convenience stores are surpassing those of soft drinks. It's common now to see coolers by checkouts containing only energy drinks positioned to appeal to young consumers.

Caffeine Is Harmful for Young Bodies. Last year, Health Canada received reports of diverse reactions involving the energy drink Red Bull. Teens are reaching for energy drinks to stay awake all night to study, party or to play computer or video games.

Kids and parents should also recognize that energy drinks should not be confused with sports drinks, which rehydrate the body. Sports drinks provide sugars, which the body burns to create energy and replenish electrolytes, but do not contain caffeine. This summer I heard the boys on Aidan's soccer team joke about drinking energy drinks before the game in the expectation that they would have more energy.

Health Canada says that children should have no more than 2.5 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight.

Doctors in Prince Edward Island want the provincial government to ban the sale of caffeine-laden energy drinks to kids. Perhaps our government should follow suit. At the very least they could ban the consumption of all energy drinks at schools and look at a minimum age for purchasing these drinks at stores.

I have Friends who teach at high schools who have told me about having kids that come to school wired after drinking numerous energy drinks than just crash. At least one had to be rushed to hospital after the youth started having heart irregularities and passed out!

I will continue to resist the "Daddy, Daddy please", I hope other parents do as well.