How to stop them drinking energy drinks??

[cricketmum84]

We have a son, just turned 14. He went through a phase about 6 months ago of buying red bull on his way home from school, I sat him down and told him they weren't suitable for kids of his age, way too much caffeine, dangerous for kids etc etc. Not had an issue since.

I've just been putting clothes away in his very very messy room. Started tidying round a bit, reached under his bed and found 18 empty pint monster cans. I've talked to him again but to be honest I'm really worried. I know they are dangerous but it just doesn't seem to sink in with him that pints of high caffeine drinks aren't healthy!

It's not as easy as just banning them - he gets weekly pocket money in exchange for some chores, he finishes school 2 hours before we get home from work so can easily go and buy them and we would never know.

I just wish the government would hurry up and put some strict age regulations in place when it comes to this stuff!

Thought it was illegal for under 16s to buy them now ? Theres a sign on the fridge in my local shop saying you'll be ID'd for buying any of them

There is an age restriction in place in the big supermarkets now. I'd be more worried he was stealing them. Coming from someone who works in a shop and has had to recover a ton of the damn things from children trying to steal them.

It’s not law yet, some shops have taken the policy voluntarily but other shops haven’t
I work in a shop that hasn’t, I hate selling them to kids but until it’s law or our stores adopt the policy there’s not much we can do
Can you stop his pocket money, or only let him have the money on weekends so he can’t buy them so often

I can't really stop his money - we have always had the rules that if your chores are done then you get your pocket money on a Saturday morning. I don't think it's fair to move the goalposts now. He already gets pocket money on a weekend but will just save it to use through the week.

The stealing suggestion worries me, he was once caught stealing a chocolate bar in a shop. He phoned me distraught Cos they said they would report it to his school and he said he wanted me to hear it from him first. I hope that gave him enough of a fright to not do it again.

I've been talking to him about WHO research and side effects from that amount of caffeine but in typical 14 year old boy style he has just clammed up and is grunting at me.

I have the same problem with my 13 year old. I too am concerned and cross but am out of ideas.

He always seems to come home with either a can of monster or a lucozade sport. I'm not sure 1 per day is that bad though? I know it's not good but I have come to the conclusion to just let it go. Choose your battles and all that!

I have started buying carbonated water as he seems to like the fizzy part of drinks.

Could be worse - at least he's not drinking a bottle of Budweiser :)