Newcastle and Hunter Schools Ban Energy Drinks

Tuesday June 2, 2009

Schools around Newcastle have begun to ban energy drinks because of the way students are behaving in the classroom.

Glendale Technology High School is among those who have put a stop on energy-drink consumption, along with Callaghan College Wallsend Campus.

Glendale High deputy principal reported in the school newsletter that: "this caused a lot of concern with the staff and we felt it was having a direct impact upon student focus on the classroom.

"We would like to promote healthy balanced diets at school."

Hunter New England Health nutritionist Kylie Young told the Newcastle Herald that energy drinks can be harmful to children and adolescents due to the high level of sugar and caffeine that they contain.

"Caffeine can cause irritability, anxiety, stomach upsets and sleep disorders and can lead to dehydration especially if they are drinking multiple cans a day," she said.
"Parents should ask whether they would be happy with their child drinking a strong cup of coffee."

Energy drink sales rose a massive 40 per cent in Australia in 2008 and the Australian Dental Association has suggested that this could have contributed to an increase in dental erosion and cavities, resulting from these drinks' high acid levels.

Back to News Index | Back to Home