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

[bonkers20]

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.

I once drank 1 can of red bull, to help me drive home from holiday. I made it home, but the next day I had a hangover!!

"Mountain Dew Energy" as it is here has 18mg of caffeine per 100ml, so a 500ml bottle would have 90mg of caffeine in it. As has been previously posted, a can of Red Bull has 80mg in it.

One can of coke has 32mg, amug of tea has 75mg and one mug of instant coffee has 100mg. A "tall" (12oz, the smallest standard size) of brewed coffee at Starbucks has 260mg in it!

Energy drinks are just hype - they're really not that dangerous and scarily caffeinated!

I think some of the newer redbull copies do have much higher levels of caffeine, but again not too much worse than a large Starbucks. But they are supposed to be had as an occasional boost, rather than drunk one after another to quench thirst. Since many teenagers (and some adults) aren't so good at moderation this is why there are sometimes problems reported.

BTW Lucozade is also caffeinated.