To stop my daughter drinking Coke Zero

[MumsForPresident]

Hi all so I just need some advice. My DD who's 14 (in my opinion) drinks way too much Coke Zero. She spends about a £1.15 every day (sometimes gets 2 bottles) on a 500ml bottle of coke. I personally think this is far too much and she needs to stop because of all the negative impacts and the potential risk of type 2 Diabetes.

She disagrees with me and says it's only 500ml (sometimes 1l) of coke a day but I still think it's too much as she doesn't drink water until the weekend and even then she is still drinking coke. We have stopped buying it but she still brings into the house. To be fair, she does have a pretty healthy diet, it's just the coke that worries me

Am I being unreasonable to think that she needs to change her choice of drink and become more healthy?

I always thought coffee was usually stronger than an energy drink?

I drink about 2l of Coke Zero a day and wish I’d never got into the habit. It’s a real struggle to break it and I always end up going back. suspect it has contributed to being overweight although I still lose weight without giving up the Coke Zero. I do notice food tastes better when I give it up for a while and everything tastes sweeter.

my teeth aren’t great though. Dentist recommended drinking through a straw would stop most of the damage.

In the grand scheme of things I couldn’t get too worked up about 1 Coke Zero a day. There are much worse things she could be eating and drinking. You said she eats healthily otherwise so I don’t think this is much of a problem. But then I’m pretty lax by mumsnet standards so others will probably be horrified.

As a mum of a diabetic child, a bottle of coke a day won't cause diabetes..

Maybe try lemonade instead thought

I think in the kindest possible way, you need to loosen up a little. Coke Zero isn't the best choice, but it's not the worst either. And you say she has great teeth and has a healthy diet otherwise, plus it's not an enormous amount of Coke Zero every day.

She's 14 yrs old and finding her feet - the more you "enforce the rules" the more she'll seek to push back. I imagine she internally eye-rolls and disregards everything you say about Coke Zero because a) she likes it, and b) because obviously teens always know best 😅

There are some things that are worth being strict about. This isn't one of them. I'd keep on encouraging her to compromise and find alternatives - but this isn't a hill worth dying on. Suggesting the plant-based healthier cola mentioned by a PP might be a good tip to try. Don't buy any Coke Zero for the house, so at least you're limiting how much she can drink.

And honestly, if it were a choice between energy drinks and Coke Zero, I'd prefer my child to be drinking the Coke Zero every time!

Gosh it's better than thunderbolt red which I used to drink 🤣

You are aware both that chronic kidney disease doesn’t happen overnight and that rates have been increasing for years? Drinking an excessive amount as a young person can certainly contribute to/accelerate the development of kidney disease.

I don’t understand posters who say ‘we did x unhealthy behaviour when I was younger and we were fine’ when we know that rates of heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, stroke, dementia etc have increased over the past few generations as a result of these behaviours.

Good point about the money. She must be getting a lot of spending or lunch money. Switch to packed lunches?
Times are hard I wouldn’t spend that daily on a drink. Maybe compromise once a week then it’s a treat.

Fizzy drinks are very addictive and not good for you. Research on the effect of Coke Zero on health:

• Increased risk of heart disease. An observational study found a link between artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of heart disease among women with no prior history of heart disease (19 Trusted Source).
• Increased risk of kidney disease. The high phosphorus content in sodas may cause kidney damage. A study noted that those who drink more than 7 glasses of diet soda per week doubled their risk of kidney disease (20 Trusted Source).
• Could alter your gut microbiome. Several studies indicate that artificially sweetened beverages can alter your gut microbiome, potentially causing poor blood sugar control (21 Trusted Source, 22 Trusted Source).
• May increase osteoporosis risk. One study observed that daily cola intake was associated with a lower bone mineral density of 3.7–5.4%. Similar results were found for those who drank diet cola beverages (23 Trusted Source).

Link to article https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-coke-zero-bad-for-you#other-downsides

She's 14. Honestly pick your battles. In four years, you'll have absolutely no say over what she does. Just promote healthy choices and model that behaviour yourself. Forcing the issue will get you nowhere. At her age it's not going to do any damage.

I'd stop talking about it at all, OP, just keep on not buying it. Ever!

Let your daughter come to the conclusion that it's a rubbish drink on her own. She's the one paying for it and nothing you say will stop her anyway.

Ditto with the energy drinks that she wants. All of this crap should be regulated properly and not aimed at kids but it is. And there are parents who just don't care who will buy it.

I’d be more concerned that her entire fluid intake over a day is just 500mls or one litre of Diet Coke

I'd probably find some documentary or youtube video about the effects of these drinks online and make her watch it. That kind of thing tends to be more effective than lecturing.

You are not wrong, it is shit in can (or bottle). I cannot get over anyone thinking a can of any fizzy juice per day is healthy

I don't think anyone has said it's healthy, just that it's not worth getting worked up over as part of an otherwise healthy diet.

It's an ultra processed food. So bad for you. I'd rather have sugar than sweeteners, they are not good for our health.

Bloody hell its coke, not cocaine.
you sound a lot like my mom op, i drink loads now ( although now reducing it off my own back)
but i got fed up of things being restricted and hearing about it!

So what else does she drink? If she only drinks 500ml a day of anything then yes she’s got a problem.
I think you’re being OTT being so worried about the coke and coffee. Nothing wrong with a small amount of caffeine. I’d just advise her to drink the coke with a meal. Think of what else she could be doing at 14!

Since this is the biggest problem you have I'm guessing that she doesn't smoke, drink alcohol or have unprotected sex?

Choose your battles, this is so benign it's rificulous.

There is a lot of concerning 'ignorance' on this thread about drinks with no sugar, but with artificial sweeteners.

Basically, you are doing more harm with artificial sugar than with real sugar (if it was used in moderation.)

These artificial sweeteners are being shown to have a high risk. They 'trick' the body into thinking it is sugar, and make people want more. There are also serious potential issues around aspartame as a sweetener.

They can also damage gut health. Google 'Gut health and artificial sweeteners and Tim Spector/ Zoe' for Youtube videos. Maybe @MumsForPresident you could ask her to watch these? They are presented in a non-preachy manner.

Fizzy drinks also contain phosphoric acid which reduces bone density.

@Rachie1973 *I admit to being a Diet Coke addict to be honest. At least a litre a day. Probably not my finest habit.

At 14 I’d pick your battles, and this wouldn’t be the hill I’d die on. It’s sugar free, and 500ml isn’t really a huge amount*

Yeah cuz drinking between 182- 364 liters of coke a year is really great for you🤣 Oh no wait: if is sugar free so than it must be ok

Carry on op. Richie says it is ok.

Please could the posters saying 'pick your battles' and describing how they have the same drink habits just stop and think? Just because you do it, doesn't make it right. These drinks are addictive- they are meant to be. It's not just a minor matter.

Exactly.

Just because some of you are unaware of the health issues doesn't mean you are doing something that's okay.

Start educating yourselves a little maybe?

So I’m in my 20s and I do have to say that I drink Coke Zero daily. To be fair, it’s my only vice and I try and keep my teeth healthy due to it. I also make sure I drink water aside from the coke too. I could try and give it up but I’ve decided that it’s better than smoking or alcohol every day so I’m not worrying or stressing over it. Can you come to a compromise? Eg, one can a day (which is less) and then decrease? Ultimately if it’s her money, I’d just be glad that’s the worst that she’s into!

Because you're being unreasonable. She'll be fine.