Some parents may not know that energy drinks can actually be harmful for kids' health. Most health professionals agree that energy drinks should be avoided among children and limited for adults.
“Children and parents are largely unaware of these health risks, despite packaging stating the drinks are not recommended for consumption for children." “They provide a potent source of caffeine and can contain high levels of sugar, sodium and herbal stimulants.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that energy drinks should be totally off-limits to kids and adolescents. A cup of cola contains about 45 milligrams of caffeine, while a cup of coffee has about twice that. Energy drinks vary widely, depending on the brand and the size of the can or bottle.
Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast feeding women.” The label must also include the caffeine content of the product in mg per 100ml.
Until a safe amount is determined, if it's impossible to avoid, people age 12 to 17 should have less than 100 mg of caffeine per day. If children or adolescents do consume caffeine, watch for side effects and limit them to amounts that don't appear to cause side effects.
In children, caffeine can raise blood pressure and interfere with sleep. It can make children less aware of being tired. It can affect their moods and make anxiety worse. They can even suffer headaches from caffeine withdrawal.
For kids and teens, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests caution. Adolescents ages 12 to 18 should cap daily caffeine intake at 100 mg (the equivalent of about one cup of coffee, one to two cups of tea, or two to three cans of soda). For children under 12, there's no designated safe threshold.
Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and causes low blood glucose (sugar). Children who drink alcohol can have seizures and coma; they could even die. This is true of beverage alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) and alcohol found in mouthwash and other personal care products.
In 2019, the government announced it would ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16. Despite research proving overconsumption leads to poorer health and education outcomes, the ban still hasn't been put in place.
Our company policy is to only sell energy drinks to customers who are aged 16+.
At what age is caffeine OK? Here's the harsh truth: No amount of caffeine is proven safe for kids 12 and under. And guidelines say teens should consume no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, which amounts to one cup of coffee or two cans of soda.
Summary. Experts and energy drink manufacturers advise against consuming energy drinks while pregnant or breastfeeding. That's because ingredients like high levels of caffeine, herbs, and vitamins may not be safe during pregnancy and lactation.
Energy drinks are an approved category, so they are legally considered “food” and must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The Food Standards Code has specific rules for permitted ingredients and labelling.
Young people who try to follow them could quickly surpass the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines for adolescents: no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day, or roughly the amount in a typical cup of coffee.
Say No to Soda
Soft drinks are commonly served to kids, but they have no nutritional value and are high in sugar. Drinking soda and other sugared drinks can cause tooth decay. Colas and other sodas often contain caffeine, which kids don't need.
Banning the sale of energy drinks for under-16s and limiting hot food takeaways near schools are among new ideas to improve the health of young people and stop the rising rates of obesity in Wales.
"PRIME Energy contains 200mg of caffeine, per 12 oz. PRIME Energy is not recommended for children under the age of 18, women who are pregnant or nursing or individuals who are sensitive to caffeine".
Thank you for subscribing! Supermarkets have started putting restrictions on certain drinks, and making customers show their ID before selling high caffeine drinks. Age restrictions are now in place on energy drinks with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre.
9 to 13 years old: 5 to 6 cups. 14 to 18 years old: 6 to 8 cups.
Teen drinkers are more likely to get fat or have health problems, too. One study by the University of Washington found that people who regularly had five or more drinks in a row starting at age 13 were much more likely to be overweight or have high blood pressure by age 24 than their nondrinking peers.
As a general rule of thumb, children aged 4 to 13 should aim to drink approximately 6-8 glasses of fluid a day, with younger children needing relatively smaller servings (e.g. 150ml glass for a 4-year-old and 250ml for an older child).
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks or other products for children under the age of 12, while adolescents between the ages of age 12 and 18 should limit their intake to less than 100 milligrams per day – about the size of an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
Symptoms of caffeine overdose can include vomiting, high blood pressure, racing heart, heart rhythm problems, and, less commonly, disorientation and hallucinations. Each year, thousands of people, some of them children, receive emergency treatment related to caffeine use.
Even though caffeine is a stimulant, it's not generally recommended as a treatment for ADHD because it hasn't proved to be as effective as prescription medications.