Redbull, V, Mother etc, for kids?

[RunningWithScissors]

Watching Sunrise they were talking about these energy drinks being consumed by kids as young as 3!
This lady has taken a stand and wont sell rhem to kids under 18 and told of mothers coming in to yell at her for not selling to their child on the morning school run..

I asked DH 'Are we prudes for not letting the kids drink these?"

At 10 & 12 my kiddos haven't touched it. How old do they have to be to make their own choices regarding these drinks do you think?

( I like to think I give my kids room to move with their own choices, Thats why Im asking :) DS loves coffee.. He will sip mine if I leave it unattended! I gave in and let him have ecco and caro- the cereal based drinks without the caffeine, which does shock people when I make him a 'coffee' )

[Boobycino]

Hell no!

Maybe when hes 16 (isn't that the can recommends not under 16?) but yeah preferably 18. Those things make me hypo! Why would anyone give them to a child?

[RunningWithScissors]

No idea what the cans reccomend, I cant stand the smell of them.. They remind me of the GTT and it nauseates me :laughing:

[Boobycino]

I hope by the time jaspers old enough they can't sell them to kids because it's not so much one that worries me, though one for a little kid would be bad, it's when 15 year olds have like 5 at once!

[share a book]

The local shops want to ban them for children under 16 but people are up in arms over it. The cans say they are not for children or pregnant/lactating women or anyone that caffiene doesn't aree with. It also says on the 500m can that I had yesterday max 1 can daily yet we see 12/13 year olds at school buyin 3 or 4 cans each morning to get them through school.

[Boobycino]

Is it also an indication of the kind of pressure young people are under at school that they feel they need energy drinks to get them through?

[Merla]

There not for children, however teenagers are a bit of a different story.

I would be outraged if my child were to drink these, there shocking for you, but once they hit around 14, have their own weekend job and money, how they spend it really falls to them. I remember drinking red bull in year 11 and 12 (so 15/16) to get me through all nighters for assignments, or keep me awake for school the next day, certainly not good for me, but I think the long term damage of occasional usage in a teen is minimal.

I see people giving toddlers coke quite often and they seem to think that's acceptable?? My 2 year old will try and steal my coffee if I leave it unattended, but since I started making her own "coffee" (frothed milk with a bit of chocolate) she has thankfully stopped trying to drink mine.

[CakeyLoaf]

Definitely not prudes! They are very strong, I used to have one occasionally when I needed a brain boost at uni. I had one the other day at the gym after not touching them for over a year- I felt so hyped up and jumpy and anxious... Never again!

They really shouldn't be given to kids under 16 and I think most cans say that on them. Good on the shops for choosing not to sell them to kids.

Gosh I'd hate to be a teacher and have kids high on red bull in my class!

[BornToBe]

ugh, adults shouldn't even drink these things, they're notoriously bad for your system.

[Hootenanny]

My 15 year old doesn't have them, I'm glad some shops won't sell them to kids. I'm no prude either if we go to a cafe he sometimes has a mocha, I hate coke too though, they should not be the default drink at fast food places.

[MyCheekyMonkey]

Teenagers are a different story, but no way for children!

I can't drink them because of my heart condition, I can only imagine what all that caffeine would do to a younger child's heart rate!

[Maximum22]

Is it also an indication of the kind of pressure young people are under at school that they feel they need energy drinks to get them through?

It's also an indication about how little our society values nutritional education for teenagers

[sweetseven]

My 15 year old doesn't have them, I'm glad some shops won't sell them to kids. I'm no prude either if we go to a cafe he sometimes has a mocha, I hate coke too though, they should not be the default drink at fast food places.
None of my children (oldest 17yr) drink them, but the teenagers (15y & 17y) have friends that do. I think it is wrong for children and would rather that shops wouldn't sell them to under 16s. (Actually I think they are bad from anyone and constantly try and discourage my little one's father from drinking them - but as an adult he makes his own choices.)

It is difficult as a parent when children can easily bypass your rules by just going to the shop and buying something themselves. And the children have peer pressure to contend with encouraging them to do so.

PS: On a similar note, my 17yo has a packet of Nodoze (caffeine pills) that she uses when she feels she needs it. I disagree with the practice but am a strong believer in bodily autonomy and thus believe she has the right to make her own decisions. I simply share my opinion with her and leave it up to her to make her own choices. This has worked out well and she does only use them occasionally.

====================

If the parents want their teens to have the energy drinks before school, they should buy them for them and have them available in the fridge at home. That way they aren't available to the children whose parents dont want them to buy them.

I can however understand the parents complaints if this was a sudden change without warning. I think if the store owner decided to make such a change they should've given a weeks notice first.

[sweetsugardumplin']

I remember as a teenager, sixteen and beyond: living on coke and cigarettes, especially during exams :no:

I don't support the consumption of these products, but I understand why young people drink them. Have you ever looked at the packaging, it's very sophisticated, perhaps a pre cursor to UDL and similar products :(

As for children - hell no :gonnagetit:

[sweetseven]

I hate coke too though, they should not be the default drink at fast food places.I have an arbitrary, no coke before 12yo rule in my house - and it makes it so difficult when the children are out with someone else who decides to buy them a fast food meal and they have to refuse the drink because the other person doesn't know to request a different drink.

My little one's father also wants to point out that cans and bottles have the components of the drink clearly explained on the label so those who are interested can look. But at fast food places it is put in a generic cup with no such information.

[Whippet]

I don't think you're being prudes at all. Far from it, actually. There are no energy drinks or soft drinks in my house. The closest thing to soft drink is mineral or soda water with a dash of cordial and even then, the kids don't have that. Their treat drink is juice or milo.

The accept that's the way it is. My brother only ever drinks coffee or coke. When they see their uncles teeth (which are in very bad shape) and smell his awful breath, they understand why coke and other similar drinks are a big no-no.

[krystallxx]

I am a huge red bull fan .. I consume them pretty much everyday and there is no way in this world I'd give it too my kids .. Not even a sip! I think around the age of 15-16 would be appropriate, but preferably not at all

[LizzardLover]

I drink things like this only VERY occasionally. I had one the other morning as i'd been feeling terrible and was getting a headache and caffeine and those sort of energy drinks help me when this is happening. I let my daughter who is now 9 years old have a sip to see what it tastes like. We then had a discussion about what the drinks are and WHY they are not for children and when they should and should not be consumed etc.... She says she liked the taste but understands it's not something she should drink until she's an adult.

[sahm]

I would never let my kids drink this stuff. I think it's horrible for adults, I can't imagine letting a 3 year old have it.

[Fuchsia!]

No way! Who would do that!

[FiveInTheBed]

...ergh - I'm having heart palpitations just reading the words 'red bull, V, mother etc' !!!

[BunInMyOven]

I love redbull and depend on caffeine to survive my busy schedule but wouldn't let my DS touch the stuff. It worries me as he really enjoys the taste of coffee on the odd sip he's nabbed of mine. But the caffeine and sugar content in these drinks are through the roof and undeniably terrible for kids.


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[Benji]

My DS does NOT need any more energy than he already has!

[jennibear]

i think they should all be taken off the market!! They are discusting and i hope they are banned by the time DD is old enough to buy her own food/drinks!!!

[zombiekitty]

I don't think they are for kids. Caffeinated drinks aren't for kids.

[bumMum]

I think ill just stick to the rule my kids can drink it when they can go to the shops with their own money from their part time jobs or whatever and buy it. Why buy it for them really? I don't even drink it and neither does dp.

[share a book]

I have them from time to time. I had one yesterday because I had a shocking day and was falling asleep when I had to drive. I have them on long drives too (8 hour drives) but not on a daily basis.

[mum2bubba]

Sorry, but any parent who buys these drinks for their kids are morons. I very rarely buy soft drink for mine and it's usually lemonaide. No way they'd be getting red bull and cr@p like that. My sister drinks V all the time and had to see a doc about her heart beating too fast and she's 27. Imagine if that was a kid? :eek:

[JaneDoe]

No way!! Red bull etc makes me jittery, imagine that effect on a child!!!

I don't let me kids have coke either , it infuriates me that friends will pour my kids a coke when socializing! They are 3 and 5 they don't need the caffiene!!!

We have told our kids they can have coke when they are 10.

I will never forgot friends at a party trying in vain for hours on end to get their just 2year old DD to sleep, pushing her in pram, rocking her in their arms, patting her in bed, she had had at least 3 glasses of coke, there was no way she was going to sleep, when this was suggested as a reason she might not be sleeping I was met with the reply 'she was drinking diet coke! She's just overtired!'

*shakes head* it still contains caffiene!!! I think many parents think diet or zero is ok for their kids!!!

[SassyMummy]

I guess once my child is old enough to have a job and go out on her own, then she will have these drinks if she wants and I won't know any better.

I'm glad that she'll be at least 14/15 by the time that happens though...

[mrsd72]

my now 14 yo had them from about aged 12/13 - when he started high school. He doesn't drink them every day TBH - only once or twice a week
I think moderation is the key ;)

[mim1]

I don't drink the stuff! It's dangerous for adults, let alone small children!

I had my first soft drink at age 8 or 9 and it was not a caffeine containing one. I didn't feel deprived. I have no wish to really introduce our son to soft drink really either - he just drinks water & milk and turns his nose up at juice, let alone soft drink and I'm happy to keep it that way as long as possible. And caffeine - well he can stay away from that for as long as possible!

[inertia]

I will never forgot friends at a party trying in vain for hours on end to get their just 2year old DD to sleep, pushing her in pram, rocking her in their arms, patting her in bed, she had had at least 3 glasses of coke, there was no way she was going to sleep, when this was suggested as a reason she might not be sleeping I was met with the reply 'she was drinking diet coke! She's just overtired!'

*shakes head* it still contains caffiene!!! I think many parents think diet or zero is ok for their kids!!!

This makes me sad. Caffeine is bad enough for children, however many people are unaware of the reported side effects from aspartame, which is found in diet soda and diet foods. I know there is much debate over whether they are safe or not but I will never expose my children to the chemicals in those drinks, just like I won't allow them to drink energy drinks. It's not worth the risk.


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[pegasus]

This (http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/healthandlifestyle.asp?sid=342&title=Caffeine-Consumption-in-Children-and-Teens#C6) is a very interesting read. I don't let my children drink coke or energy drinks, but I drink diet colas and sugar free energy drinks (sometimes). To be honest, I've taken my heart rate before, during and after drinking an energy drink and it was no different. So I think - for me - moderation is fine.

However, I avoid artificial colours, flavours and preservatives for my kids and certainly caffeine.

My brain is fully developed - what I consume is my responsibility, but for my kids, I'll keep this stuff away from them as long as possible. If they're at a party or something - I will organise lemonade (no colours and no caffeine) or carbonated fruitjuice. But they are occasional treats.

[monnie24]

That is terrible :( 3yo? are you kidding me!!

My bf has a heart condition from drinking vodka/redbull or mother she would binge drink and ended up in hospital after future music festival last year, now she has to take tabs for the rest of her life scary stuff..