Ban energy drinks from schools, teachers’ union pleads

Energy drinks should be banned from schools because they are “readily available legal highs,” according to a teaching union.

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers says the stimulants in the drinks contribute to ‘poor behaviour.’

A single 500ml can can be cheaper than a bottle of water and contains 160mg of caffeine, which is the same as two shots of espresso coffee.

This is well above the 105mg a day limit recommended by the European Food Safety Authority for children aged 11.

Darren Northcott, NASUWT national official for education, said: “Teachers have registered concerns with the NASUWT about the contribution of high energy drinks to poor pupil behaviour as a result of pupils consuming excessive quantities of these drinks.

“They are popular among young people who often think they are just another soft drink, and young people and parents are often not aware of the very high levels of stimulants that these drinks contain.

“They are readily available legal highs sold in vending machines, supermarkets and corner shops.

“The NASUWT has always been clear that drinks with high levels of sugar should not be sold on school premises.”

A former health minister, Norman Lamb, said: “The potential health risks and impact on sleep of energy drinks is something I would like the committee to consider evidence on in the new year.”

He added that “given epidemic levels of consumption among under-16s, we have to consider banning the sale of these drinks to that group.”

Separate research by Fuse, a research collaboration of five universities in the North East, found that children were buying the drinks because they were cheaper than water.

Children as young as 10 said they were purchasing them for 25p and opted for them over water or coke because they wanted to ‘fit in’ or look tough.’

Many cans carry warnings that they are ‘not recommended for children’ – as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women – due to the high levels of caffeine.

Victoria Stead, from Milton Keynes, started consuming energy drinks when she was 16 and would have up to seven a day.

“I was definitely hooked. I would have a can for breakfast, another one mid-morning, and several in the afternoon.

“It took me a while to wean myself off energy drinks. I would get headaches if I didn’t drink them. Since I have stopped drinking them, I have lost weight and my vision has improved again.

“Ironically, I also have more energy now and I sleep better.”

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