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Original poster

What age do you let them have coffee?

69 replies

Spotsbeforemyeyes · 15/11/2018 09:12

I have 6 dc, eldest is 23, then 21, 15, 13, 11 and 7.

Eldest had latte from 17. Ds (21) not interested in coffee, he drinks tea from time to time.

Ds is 15, he said this morning “ I’m going to make a brew” I assumed tea, when I realised he was making coffee (pods if it’s relevant) so I stopped him.

He goes to football regularly with his dad so I don’t know if ds allows him coffee.

Anyway this has got longer than I intended.

Coffee at 15? It feels too young. Is decaf an option? I don’t drink decaf, I only ever have one coffee a day so is decaf completely free from caffeine?

Thanks if you made it through.

OP posts:
MumMidwife · 15/11/2018 10:51

My eldest started drinking coffee around 15 yrs but now only has a couple a week (novelty has worn off after 4 yrs)
Not sure i would offer my 11 yr old one just yet though.
However, you do know there’s more caffeine in tea that coffee don’t you? Decaf is fine but the chemicals used to make it such are pretty disgusting

ReverseTheFerret · 15/11/2018 11:01

DD1 (6) announced the other week that "when you and daddy are dead I'm going to drink coffee all day". Nana's let her have the odd sip of her lattes at Costa and unleashed a bit of a monster!

Hezz · 15/11/2018 11:08

Why would tea be okay then?

This is a little weird.

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General food
Avegemitesandwich · 15/11/2018 11:09

Jesus I thought you were going to say 3 not 15!!!!

My 8 year old has an occasional very milky coffee.

GrumpyInsomniac · 15/11/2018 11:12

Having spent 6 years living above our coffee shop, our son started having decaf lattes in the morning when he was 11. Having now closed the shop and moved, he now puts on a pot of filter coffee in the mornings and enjoys a cup with me before heading to the bus. That's the only caffeine he drinks. He's 12.5.

I seem to recall starting drinking coffee at a similar age, and had started drinking tea earlier still. I think having a little in moderation, and learning the potential impact as he goes isn't a bad thing. I'm a bit shocked that anyone wouldn't let a 15 year old have coffee.

Rockbird · 15/11/2018 11:16

Mine are 6 and 10 and drink tea. Neither of them like the smell of coffee but if they wanted to drink it I wouldn't stop them unless they were about to go to bed!

Fairylea · 15/11/2018 11:16

My 15 year old has been having lattes at costa etc since she was about 11! It wouldn’t even occur to me to be bothered about it in the slightest. If she started to drink coffee all day everyday that would be different but the odd one here and there, who cares? All food / drink in moderation is fine.

Thatwasfast · 15/11/2018 11:20

Coke and chocolate has caffeine in it. Do you not let them have chocolate?

Sallygoroundthemoon · 15/11/2018 11:28

You stopped him having a coffee at 15. You sound very controlling...

mrsrhodgilbert · 15/11/2018 11:45

Wow, dd now 25 used to like to finish my coffee when she was about 3 so I used to make her a very weak milky one of her own. How times have changed. What do you think will happen to him?

dreamyflower · 15/11/2018 12:29

I teach year five and a huge number of them drink coffee or tea in the morning. Not sure if decaf but the way some of them bounce in, I doubt it. I drunk tea from 4 yrs- hated taste of coffee though. I think your ds is old enough to drink a coffee...

delilahbucket · 15/11/2018 12:37

My ten year old loves a decaff coffee and often has one. He's not allowed caffeine though and that applies to in any drink. He was inadvertently given caffeine a couple of months ago in some ice cream. Poor kid couldn't sleep. I felt awful for not checking the ingredients, as I thought it was just coffee flavouring, not made with the real thing! I don't think I'll allow him to have caffeine until he hits 13/14.

JustKeepSwimmingJustKeepSwimmi · 15/11/2018 12:37

Ive wondered this as my 10 year old has fruit tea but we don't do caffeine. Havent tried her with a decaf coffee actually.

At 15 I would though, 6th form common rooms usually have tea and coffee dont they so thats from 16. I used to have instant as a teen.

I guess somepoint between 10 and 15 then but no idea where in my head. Gosh it goes fast doesn't it!

Racecardriver · 15/11/2018 12:39

Hmm you are worried about coffee at 15? I started having espresso coffee at 8. I am totally. What exactly do you think will happen?

Hoppinggreen · 15/11/2018 12:39

13 year old dd and her mates often have an iced latte when they go shopping
It’s probably less than once a week so I’m fine with it

Gingerivy · 15/11/2018 12:41

My 9yo drinks decaf tea and coffee. Decaf mainly because it's what we have in the house anyway. I'm not worried. He occasionally has a caffeinated one if we go to Costa, but mostly now he opts for those hot spiced apple drinks on their seasonal menu.

Cachailleacha · 15/11/2018 12:43

Wouldn't think twice about a child over 12 making themselves a coffee.

Racecardriver · 15/11/2018 12:44

Oh and the decaf isn’t completely caffeine free, it will have trace amounts.

delilahbucket · 15/11/2018 12:45

@Monday55 at present there is no minimum age requirement for buying energy drinks. Some supermarkets have banned the sale to under 16's but this is only some and it is voluntary.

Longdistance · 15/11/2018 12:46

My dd is 9, and likes a milky tea. She even does that satisfying gasping noise as soon as she drinks the first sip. I drank tea and coffee when I was younger and a similar age.

I find it’s this country that is weird with kids drinking tea and coffee.

SheSparkles · 15/11/2018 12:47

My ds was having the very occasional beer at 15 and you’re policing coffee. Only on MN 😂(that’s meant in a kindly way OP, every parent has the right to their own beliefs and values)

redeyetonowheregood · 15/11/2018 12:48

My children (9 and 6) aren't allowed caffeine as it is habit forming/additive. When I was your son's age however, I had my own coffee machine in my room. I loved buying and trying different coffees.

I had quite a stressful time during my early 30s and ended up with anxiety driven depression. I read up on cortisol/caffeine and gave it up altogether as it wasn't helping me at all.

We only drink decaf tea and coffee at home and my children are welcome to have that. They like tea but not coffee yet unless it is full of milk. When I am out and about I have maybe one coffee a week or so but usually stick to decaf.

Gingerivy · 15/11/2018 12:49

Here's a comparison (although American), it gives a good idea:

Like coffee, tea, and soda, hot chocolate contains caffeine. Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that’s often used to provide a much-needed energy boost.
The exact amount of caffeine found in hot chocolate depends on how your drink was made. For example, a 16 ounce (oz.), or grande, cup of Starbucks’ hot chocolate contains 25 milligrams (mg) of caffeine.

Coffee is usually high in caffeine. The exact amount will depend on the type of coffee, the amount of beans or grounds used, and the brewing technique.
Here’s what you can usually expect with:
Decaf: 1 cup (8 oz.) contains about 2 mg of caffeine
Regular (black): 1 cup (8 oz.) contains on average 95 mg of caffeine
Espresso: 1 shot (30 ml) contains about 63 mg of caffeine
Instant coffee: 1 cup (8 oz.) of instant coffee contains 63 mg of caffeine
Cold brew: one 12 oz. (tall) serving of Starbucks’ cold brew contains 155 mg of caffeine, while its 30 oz. (trenta) serving contains 360 mg of caffeine
Latte or mocha: 1 cup (8 oz.) contains 63-126 mg of caffeine

How does hot chocolate compare to different teas?
Tea is usually moderate in caffeine. As with coffee, the exact amount of caffeine will depend on the type of tea, the number of bags or amount of leaves used, and the brewing process and time. Herbal tea contains no caffeine.
Here’s what you can usually expect with:
Black tea: 1 cup (8 oz.) contains 25-48 mg of caffeine
Green tea: 1 cup (8 oz.) contains 25-29 mg of caffeine
Oolong tea: 1 cup (8 oz.) contains an average of 36 mg of caffeine
White tea: 1 cup (8 oz.) contains an average of 37 mg of caffeine
Pu-erh tea: 1 cup (8 oz.) of black Pu-erh contains 60-70 mg of caffeine, whereas 1 cup (8 oz.) of green Pu-erh contains 30-40 mg of caffeine
Chai tea: 1 cup (8 oz.) contains between 31-45 mg of caffeine, while a Starbucks chai tea latte contains about 95 mg.
Kombucha: kombucha usually contains up to half of the caffeine content found in the tea it’s made with, or none if made with an herbal tea

How does hot chocolate compare to soft drinks?
Although most soft drinks are high in caffeine, some contain no caffeine at all.
Here’s what you can usually expect with:
Pepsi, regular: one 20-oz serving contains 63 mg of caffeine
Coca-Cola, regular, or Coke Zero: one 20-oz serving contains 56-57 mg of caffeine
Dr. Pepper, diet or regular: one 20-oz serving contains 68 mg of caffeine
Mountain Dew, diet or regular: one 20-oz serving contains 91 mg of caffeine
Barq’s root beer, regular: one 20-oz serving contains 38 mg of caffeine
Ginger ale: one 12-oz serving is caffeine-free
Sprite: one 12-oz serving is caffeine-free

SheSparkles · 15/11/2018 12:49

I should add that ds was drinking decaf coffee from about 6/7, there’s no way would I have inflicted a caffeinated ds on the world. I think he was drinking regular (as in instant) from about 10ish

SunflowerSally · 15/11/2018 12:50

14 year old has a cup of coffee every morning. 12 year old occasionally. I won't allow sugary fizzy drinks though. Everyone has a line in the sand.