Monster for under 16s?

[Fatiguedwithlife]

DS is in year 7 and is DESPERATE to try monster (the energy drink).
I know a couple of his friends have it but it’s something I’m really not keen on letting him do.
I said I’d ask the Hive what their consensus is.

YABU - let him try it, it’s fine
YANBU - make him wait til he’s a lot older

I wouldn’t
my husband is addicted to it and he’s got really high blood pressure now, my teen daughter said kids at her school are drinking 2/3 cans a day because of how “nice” it is

That's why in a lot of stores it is age restricted to 16 year old. We have to ask for ID if they look under 25 and have to have a provisional licence.

There is no need for a child so young to be drinking energy drinks. There are no benefits and a hell of a lot of risks!

Show him this image.

The answer would be no the same as if they asked for alcohol

He’s had sips of beer/ cider etc I’m not precious about alcohol as I’d like him to have a healthy relationship with booze as it’s a part of (most people’s) adult life.

I just don’t like the idea of the chemical cocktail that energy drinks are.

Do you let him drink coffee?

Would you let him drink brewed coffee not instant with about 50gms of sugar added to it and colourings?

I won't drink the stuff, I certainly don't let DS year 10 drink it and DD has tried it more recently but she's 18 and I now have no control over what she does. She knows what's in it though and her friends say she's more hyper after a energy drink then on alcohol. So gives you an idea of how people react to them.

Yes he has coffee with his dad sometimes 🙄

Give him some but dose it up with vinegar or something first. He won’t want it again.

Government is in the process of banning the sale of them for under 16s. They can be petty damaging. My 15 isn’t allowed to buy them with my money or in my presence! Can’t promise what she does when I’m not watching…..
Also, they are rank.

I’m hoping if he holds out to 16/17/18 he’ll think they’re gross (DD1 did that and doesn’t see the appeal now).
Glad I’m not the only one thinking this, was starting to think I might be overreacting

I wouldn’t be letting him, no. But be bear in mind, while places like Tesco, Sainsbury’s etc won’t sell energy drinks to under 16s, many independent corner shops will so he might just buy them himself.

I’m not a strict mum, or someone who worries all that much about food and drink always having to be healthy and nutritious but I had always banned my kids from having energy drinks. My eldest has definitely tried them. Luckily she hates them. Fingers crossed the rest feel the same.

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

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.

I wouldn’t give him an entire can btw.

Just a few sips like you would with alcohol.

You give your year 7 child sips of alcohol ?

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.

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

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

Absolutely not.

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

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

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 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

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.