Monster for under 16s?

No. Energy drinks are not for children which you should know as he can't buy it himself.

I’m like you - allow sips of alcohol, not hard bans on things in general - but I’d put this in the ‘drugs’ camp rather than the ‘alcohol’ camp. People can get addicted to alcohol, but most people don’t, whereas Monster and similar drinks are addictive for many (most?) and contain other things that are really not good for you. I’d be saying ‘no’, but explaining exactly why, including potential addiction.

Please don’t. It’s so bad for the heart

DS1 who was 15/16 at the time, drank a can of this and fainted at school. He is now 28, super fit and healthy and wouldn’t dream of drinking something with so much sugar in it!

Hard no. And I can’t believe you can’t decide this for yourself.

I drink 2/3 a day and I’m struggling to cut back, I’ve been drinking them regularly since I was about 15 so I’d be inclined to say absolutely not.

However I was also 16 once and I know that my parents saying I couldn’t have something made me want it more and I’d just find a way of getting it myself.

If he has ID he’ll just buy it himself anyway, he’s legally allowed to. I’d allow him one to try, he might hate it. If he does enjoy it, tell him you won’t have it in the house or around you.

Edit- sorry for some reason I thought you said your DS was 16. My brain isn’t working properly yet. Year 7 is ages 12-14 right?
Honestly I stand by the above. If I may make a suggestion, IF you do buy one, get one of the juiced ones, they’re marginally healthier and not as nice flavour wise as the standard ones.

Absolutely no way. They’re dangerous and really damaging to the body.

yoh can let him try it. my kids have, they sometimes get one…once every 2 months? or you can say no your too young rn. up to you…but just be aware that high school means all bets are off really, he’ll get his hands on it or get a sip of someone’s if he really wants to. All you can do is say why you’re not keen, and let him know the harms of overconsumption

An eleven year old doesn't need an energy drink! Hard no from me.

I wouldn’t let my 11 year old have it, also wouldn’t buy it for my 15 year old and have explained to her how bad it is for you and she isn’t interested.

I do let them have coffee occasionally but a can of monster has more caffeine than one coffee, plus the sugar and colourings.

Just say no, it’s bad for you.

A few years ago my daughter was the same. I'd never tried it so we decided to give it a go together. We bought one can, decided it was ok but not something we'd probably drink again and the issue never really raised its head again.
I think having the can was more important than the drink, and that was rinsed through and on display in her bedroom for ages.

I wouldn't drink it as an adult it's just a can of chemicals, no way would my 7 year old be drinking it. He drinks water mainly , milk, occasionally fruit juice. We don't even give him fizzy drinks

Apologies misread year 7 as 7 year old, but my answer would still be no and I'd explain exactly what's in them and why they're so awful for your body, skin, teeth. Assuming none of the adults in your house drink them use that to explain why, in that you're old enough to buy still don't because of how bad they are for you

I agree with this. But not a full can.

You've allowed a taste.of alcohol. Surely same principle applies here.

Anything off limits becomes more of an attraction.

I don’t touch the stuff and wouldn’t but I find it funny that people are going on about how bad it is when those same people are probably addicted to their caffeine in the morning

Would you let him drink 2 cups of coffee? That's the caffeine equivalent.

Absolutely not.

You could also put vinegar in it and let him try that 😂

Let him try it if you must but it’s not good for him. I doubt a sip would hurt but you don’t want him chugging them after school.

Monster is harmful for a 12‑year‑old because their body is still developing and can’t safely handle the huge amounts of caffeine, sugar and stimulants it contains. The caffeine dose exceeds the safe intake for a child. It could give him jitters, anxiety, palpitations. It also increases strain on the heart.

A can also contains double the daily sugar recommended limit for a child.

Animal studies suggest taurine in adolescence may affect memory, social behaviour and brain development, indicating children may be more vulnerable to its effects

Yeah? And? I always used to have sips of alcohol when my parents were having a drink, and I grew up fine - and I don't, in fact, drink at all myself now.

You give your year 7 child sips of alcohol ?

I wouldn’t give him an entire can btw.

Just a few sips like you would with alcohol.

I’d personally let him try it, else he’s going to find another way of trying it.

But make it clear that you don’t want him drinking it again.

I’ve always focused on talking about being healthy and things like this can affect physical things - gives you bad skin, harder to gain muscle, smoking makes you smell etc things then teens care about more than saying it’s bad for your heart.

No no no and more no!
My DS3 tried 1/4 can when out trick or treating last Halloween (he was a month away from being 16), got in the car and admitted to me that his heart was beating out of his chest. He said he now understood why I’d always been very very against it.

I’m not strict in any sense of the word-my boys drink coffee. But Monster needs banning. There isn’t anyone in the world that needs that much caffeine/sugar in one drink for any reason