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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

do you let your children drink energy drinks?

100 replies

zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 16:43

just wondering because my mum isn't too bothered but does try to limit them whereas some of my friends parents try to ban them completely (not that it works)!

OP posts:
00100001 · 04/01/2021 17:58

@zeitgeista

5 cans a day !!

...jealous Blush

You're jealous that someone is addicted to a harmful substance...?
RoseMartha · 04/01/2021 18:00

No they are hyper enough lol

zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 18:00

what lol

i'm not asking for your permission, i have two parents who do that, thank you.
i was bored and i just wanted to hear other people's opinions in what they do with their teenagers.
i don't drink alcohol, anyway.

OP posts:
lynsey91 · 04/01/2021 18:00

@zeitgeista

5 cans a day !!

...jealous Blush

You shouldn't be jealous. They really are not good for you. I can't believe 2 parents drink so much of them
zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 18:00

jealous that someone has enough money to spend on them.

what's your problem.

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zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 18:01

that was to @00100001, not @lynsey91, sorry.

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formerbabe · 04/01/2021 18:02

Oh gosh it's nothing to be jealous of...it's really not good for you. Drink water, it's free, good for you and save your money for something else. Clothes, make up, that's what I spent my money on as a teenager!

You say you don't like water but you'll get used to it...if you were thirsty in the desert, I can guarantee you'd drink water!

Separateatone · 04/01/2021 18:02

It’s just caffeine isn’t it? No worse than an espresso surely?

shamus2020 · 04/01/2021 18:04

My kids are 18,18 and 16 they all drink energy drinks so so I so I can't ban them otherwise I'd be a hypocrite Confused

00100001 · 04/01/2021 18:05

@zeitgeista

jealous that someone has enough money to spend on them.

what's your problem.

This is naive thinking. Addicts can't always afford their addiction. You have no idea what the PP is doing to find it. They may be spending that money on energy drinks rather than good food.

Yes it's a "cheap" addiction, but at least £5 a day it still amounts to over £1800 a year 'wasted'.

formerbabe · 04/01/2021 18:05

@shamus2020

My kids are 18,18 and 16 they all drink energy drinks so so I so I can't ban them otherwise I'd be a hypocrite Confused
Why would you be a hypocrite?
00100001 · 04/01/2021 18:07

@zeitgeista

what lol

i'm not asking for your permission, i have two parents who do that, thank you.
i was bored and i just wanted to hear other people's opinions in what they do with their teenagers.
i don't drink alcohol, anyway.

Your immaturity is showing through. You are asking for 'permission' via approval from forum members.

You smoke and think you should be allowed to drink these energy drinks. You're judgement is poor.

00100001 · 04/01/2021 18:12

@formerbabe PP says as an adult drinking energy drinks,she can't exactly tell her adult offspring that they can't do the same thing.q

zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 18:13

i don't think i should be allowed to drink them, i do drink them.
i'm not asking for permission to convince my parents to let me drink them, i'm simply bored and asking other people what they do.

OP posts:
formerbabe · 04/01/2021 18:15

[quote 00100001]@formerbabe PP says as an adult drinking energy drinks,she can't exactly tell her adult offspring that they can't do the same thing.q[/quote]
Oh I see...think they're was a typo and its meant to read ' so do i'

formerbabe · 04/01/2021 18:18

I know when you're young you think you're invincible but smoking and drinking these drinks is really not good for you and the longer you do these things the harder it is to give them up.

Twobrews · 04/01/2021 18:22

No, my daughter went through a bit of a phase when she was 15 but she started getting really bad headaches and cut out all caffeine and they stopped.

Train yourself to drink water honestly, you can do it and your future self will thank you.

zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 18:22

idk, for now i'm enjoying myself and don't plan on quitting soon but i guess as i get older i'll naturally not want to do it anymore.

i don't do it to look cool but it definitely has helped form a few friendships.

OP posts:
JorisBonson · 04/01/2021 18:24

I miss being a teenager and thinking you had everything sussed.

zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 18:24

can't tell if that's criticism or just a passing comment.

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Graphista · 04/01/2021 19:53

They should imo be banned for EVERYONE not just kids and quite a few are in other countries, the Uk is woefully lax on understanding and regulating things regarded as food or drink.

Why are they harmful?

In simple terms:

They rot your digestive system (from the tongue down! I've met patients who've had to have all or part of their tongues removed due to the damage done by drinks like this inc excessive consumption of cola drinks, also parts of lips and palate and of course rots your teeth - very attractive - NOT!)

They raise your heart rate - which is extremely dangerous for a number of reasons and also make your heart beat "harder" making the heart enlarge more with each heartbeat, this has long and short term consequences and has in some cases proven fatal to previously young, fit and healthy individuals.

Increases risk of developing diabetes and at a much younger age than you possibly would have without consuming these. There's also some research that shows that acquiring diabetes due to this makes it a harder to manage form of diabetes

Can cause/worsen certain neurological disorders and functioning

Makes you more vulnerable to chemical addiction generally, and this of course is not limited to "street drugs" but also alcohol and prescription meds

Caffeine addiction itself is not to be dismissed, I unwittingly became an addict myself via "just" coffee years ago, I quit "cold turkey" for health reasons and became extremely ill instantly. Thought it was a flu type thing felt absolutely lousy, was vomiting, dizzy, fainting all sorts. Went to gp who correctly dx caffeine addiction and advised I wean myself off gradually which I did.

As for the smoking, well I know teens think they're immortal somewhat you are not. Smoking has long and short term consequences for your health, more than happy to provide MANY examples of patients Young (by which I mean not much older than you now) and older suffering pain, fear and dying due to smoking.

It's not "cool" it's certainly not "glamorous" it's plain stupid in this day and age with all we know to even take up smoking in the first place, I genuinely don't understand it at all, and I have a dd not much older than you (19) and the vast majority of her peers are very critical of the few youngsters they know who smoke (it's certainly a reason why they won't date these people, total turn off) it's definitely not "fashionable" ime for that generation. Even among the few that partake in cannabis tend to not smoke it now but use edibles instead (NOT that I am remotely condoning this either!)

The people I know who are smokers are my parents generation, the younger generations mostly thankfully have more sense.

Especially NOW the LAST thing you need to do is compromising your heart and lung systems.

Particularly as younger people are being generally let down over covid detection and treatment

The only person who can truly ensure your good health is you. Don't let yourself down

formerbabe · 04/01/2021 19:54

Very well said @Graphista

Graphista · 04/01/2021 19:58

I honestly think they should be banned full stop. If the British public was fully aware of the research into the harm they cause I feel confident there would be more calls for a ban.

At least as harmful as alcohol. Some research believes more so.

maybemove · 04/01/2021 20:01

Banned for my 14yo (although will rarely allow a lucozade energy) was banned for my eldest too but she’s 18 now so does get them when she fancies it.
11yo (almost 12) doesn’t even get fizzy drinks.

zeitgeista · 04/01/2021 20:06

wow that's really surprising.
i really don't smoke to look 'cool' or 'glamorous', i started years ago due to other reasons and just never been able to give it up.

i'll try cutting down on energy drinks but i do really like them so i'll maybe have one a week or less.

i really appreciate all of the advice/information and will take it on board even if i seem like i'm not.

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