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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not allow my DS(12) Mountain Dew or Red Bull

28 replies

bonkers20 · 21/09/2011 09:15

He is begging me to be allowed a bottle of the stuff to take on an overnight Scout hike.

I have vague notions of it being massively high in caffeine but as well as that I just feel uncomfortable with him wanting to have these "cool" drinks.

OP posts:
BatsUpMeNightie · 21/09/2011 09:17

Just let him have it. One bottle. Otherwise you'll make it even more desirable than he already thinks it is. Both are disgusting but he needs to find that out for himself.

aldiwhore · 21/09/2011 09:18

Red Bull is vile stuff, but I love it. Not heard of Mountain Dew.

When I was 12 I was into Purdys....

cantspel · 21/09/2011 09:19

let him have one bottle of Mountain dew. It wont do any harm and hopefully he wont like the taste.

borderslass · 21/09/2011 09:20

I know some shops wont sell energy drinks to under 16s so YANBU.

BatsUpMeNightie · 21/09/2011 09:21

Mountain Dew looks like phosphorescent irradiated goat's piss and funnily enough it tastes exactly as I would imagine that to taste!

Pagwatch · 21/09/2011 09:22

If you don't want him to have it just say no.

Don't buy him stuff you don't want him to have because he may just get hold of it anyway. If you start parenting according to compromising your choices because otherwise he will do it anyway, you might as well just give up.

You are the parent. He is the child.

cantspel · 21/09/2011 09:22

Our local poundstreatcher refused to sell a bottle of Ben Shaw shandy to my 13 year old but allowed him to buy a tin of red bull instead.

featherbag · 21/09/2011 09:22

No way on god's earth would I let a 12yo have a high caffeine drink, I certainly wouldn't be buying it! I don't think under 16s should be able to buy it, it can be very bad for the heart, especially an adolescent one!

Tanif · 21/09/2011 09:23

Mmmm Mountain Dew... Get him it but get him the proper american stuff, it tastes far nicer. The British stuff they're putting on the shelves just tastes of sweeteners and I'm pretty certain no liquid that you ingest should ever be that colour.

MsGee · 21/09/2011 09:24

I would avoid the Red Bull - don't know about Moutain Dew. I am a hardened caffeine nut and it still sends me a bit loopy.

Original poster
bonkers20 · 21/09/2011 09:28

Can someone point me to some facts which say it's bad for children?

I would like to back up my "no" with good reasons. I think he deserves that at his age.

I haven't decided yet though, it seems opinion is divided.

Thanks.

OP posts:
pleasekeepcalmandcarryon · 21/09/2011 09:28

My husband likes these drinks as does DS1 (10). DS isn't technically allowed them but has been known to sneak his dad's or buy with pocket money. Both have ADHD and I have been told that people with this condition can actually find them helpful regarding concentration (as opposed to going on a loopy caffeine high). I often wonder if this is why they like them so much.

MiseryBusiness · 21/09/2011 09:31

Mountain Dew is banned in a lot of places as it can be addictive. I hate redbull myself and I wouldnt let kids drink it but I guess the more you say no the more they want to drink it.

borderslass · 21/09/2011 09:32

heres one article lots more online

GnomeDePlume · 21/09/2011 09:32

As a one off for an overnight hike then I wouldnt have a problem with it. However I would be explaining that it is to keep you going so not to take a slug of it prior to settling down for a nap.

It is when it is used regularly that I think it is a problem.

Maryz · 21/09/2011 09:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TiggyD · 21/09/2011 09:40

Lucozade sport is the drink he'll need. The raspberry one is divine.

itisnearlysummer · 21/09/2011 09:42

And lots of kendal mint cake!

At least that's what mines taking on his hike in a few weeks

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 21/09/2011 11:23

I wouldn't. It's terrible stuff. I'd be explaining that it is very high in caffeine, very high in sugar, and is addictive. Give him KM cake, or lucozade. He will get the same sugar rush without the caffeine if he needs an energy boost. I'd also be explaining about blood sugar spikes and their after effects. Carbs or protein are much better ways of providing energy than red bull.

belledechocchipcookie · 21/09/2011 11:27

IIRC, Red Bull is banned in France. I wouldn't want my son to drink any of these, cola is his limit.

Original poster
bonkers20 · 21/09/2011 22:25

Well, I read up about it and talked about it with DH and we've decided that DS won't be having it. I explained it to him (the levels of caffeine, the immense high and then low he might get), but also said that I was sure one bottle wouldn't harm him. I don't want him to think we're hysterical.

As I said earlier, it's not just the physical effect, it's him thinking it's a cool thing to do. In a few years, the issue will be with alcohol and I want him to make sensible choices then, not just do what's cool.

We've said he can have a Sports drink (Lucozade) and he asked for a bag of Skittles...which we agreed to!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 21/09/2011 22:28

I am glad you made that decision!

I love the stuff but have had to stop myself having it, if I have more than one can then it has the desired effect at the time but 24 hours has a massive effect on my mood and I end up really miserable and cranky

Wrigglebum · 21/09/2011 22:47

A can of redbull actually has less caffeine than an average mug of filter or instant coffee (80mg vs 100-150 mg and some takeaway coffees have over 200mg) it's just hype really rather than anything. I think it works out ever so slightly more than a cup of tea (you know, like some people have to help them sleep).

One can in a blue moon isn't too bad but the problem is that some people will drink two or three on the trot.

Wrigglebum · 21/09/2011 22:52

FWIW I probably won't let my DS have it when he's 12 if he carries on being as hyper as he is now! I'm pretty sensitive to caffeine and only have 1-2 cokes in a day, no tea or coffee as otherwise I get the shakes!

You know your son best (how is he with cola/tea/coffee if he ever has it?) just wanted to state the facts as redbull pretty hyped.

ddubsgirl · 21/09/2011 23:07

the shops in our local hospital refuse to sell red bull & all energy drinks to under 16s they are high in caffine and that over a time can cause the heart to race leading to heart problems,its on the rise in kids and a&e are seeing more & more kids coming in with racing heart etc,big call to ban them to under 18s