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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Do you allow your teen to have energy drinks?

40 replies

CherryFlavourOwl · 14/01/2022 20:24

Ive not allowed it to date, but I know he's had one can of Red Bull which he sneaked off his (grown up) sister.

He's now asking me about ordering some of these energy drinks from Amazon. They're powders, they're aimed at gamers and he's clearly seen this on tik tok or whatever

So.. I'm not sure whether to agree to it and place some conditions on consumption as it'd be a disaster if he started glugging one at 10pm! They contain caffeine and taurine. Or just say no

I'm leaning towards agreeing it and asking him to think about when he might drink one to try and have some sort of control - I'm aware he could quite happily choose to do this every day if he wanted!

He's 15. Prepared to be laughed at and told I'm ridiculously precious.

OP posts:
nettytree · 14/01/2022 20:27

You have to be 16 years old to buy them in Wales. My 15 year old has had powerade and lucozade but I wouldn't let him have the monster, redbull type.

delilahbucket · 14/01/2022 20:27

Absolutely not. They are highly addictive and full of crap. Better to have a cup of coffee 😂

JDaytona · 14/01/2022 20:29

No way.

Original poster
CherryFlavourOwl · 14/01/2022 20:30

Thing is, chances are he will do it anyway. He's well behaved etc etc but he's also a typical teen and he will just do it behind my back. Standard I suppose

So I'm torn between a 'one a week on a Saturday morning' or a blanket no pal

OP posts:
Original poster
CherryFlavourOwl · 14/01/2022 20:30

I think I'll attempt a no and talk to me when you're 16. And offer him a coffee SmileGrin

OP posts:
Watto1 · 14/01/2022 20:35

No way. I once saw a documentary where they gave half a class of 14 year olds a red bull at lunchtime. The kids had a lesson after lunch. The teacher of the class was asked if she could tell which kids had drunk the red bull based on their behaviour. She was 100% correct. The red bull drinking children were far more disruptive and unfocused than the others.

negomi90 · 14/01/2022 20:39

I wouldn't ban it. But I wouldn't buy it either.
At 15 he'll have access to his own money and could easily buy it behind your back. I wouldn't want to make it a forbidden thing or give attention to it. Its not ideal but its not worth a proper fight. So I'd be discouragingly neutral and make him pay for it himself without much comment.

FatLabrador · 14/01/2022 20:40

I wouldnt want a teen drinking it all the time but would let them have the one a week on Saturday morning but if you order it online would he go along with that without any trouble? If so then yes, it's not much more caffeine than a large coffee.

Original poster
CherryFlavourOwl · 14/01/2022 20:40

Yeah good points made.

I've just said no to him. Told him I've looked into it and the side effects aren't good and it's not something I'm agreeing to. He eye rolled , muttered about buying it anyway under his breath which I ignored and just said ' I rarely say no but this is one of those times. It's a no' and then pleasantly said I was making pizza

So he knows the score now and well, I'll soon know if he orders it!

OP posts:
Original poster
CherryFlavourOwl · 14/01/2022 20:41

And he does have his own money but he doesn't often go out. And if he does it whilst out - normal for a 15 year old boy. I get that

I just wasn't comfortable with facilitating it

OP posts:
Hotcuppatea · 14/01/2022 20:44

It's a no in this house. They know why as well. I'm sure they do buy them on occasion when I'm not there, and there's nothing I can do about that, but they've had it drummed in to them that it's as bad as drinking toxic waste.

Whatsyourfavouritescarymovie · 14/01/2022 21:01

I was drinking a lot of energy drinks at 12 years old so personally wouldn't have an issue with a 15 year old having one occasionally. I still buy them now as I work nights and they are useful for a 3am boost of energy, excessive consumption can cause problems which is why I say occasionally above, I'd rather my kids have 1 a week at home than 2/3/4 or more a week in secret, I found out the hard way that drinking them in excess isn't a good idea.

JDaytona · 14/01/2022 21:06

I'd offer him an espresso a couple of times a week.

But those energy drinks are terrible.

WeAllHaveWings · 14/01/2022 21:09

Ds is 17 now so outside my control but he was strongly discouraged as a young teen and doesn't drink now. I would never have bought for him. He said he tried once and felt no effect so didnt bother again as too much hassle to buy when under 16.

AlwaysLatte · 14/01/2022 21:12

No, my 13 year old has the occasional lucozade but definitely not a red bull type drink.

Santaisstilleatingmincepies · 14/01/2022 21:14

We took ds 26 to hospital.. Suspected heart attack.. Dr told him he needed to give up energy drinks or risk a real one.

MrsKDB · 14/01/2022 21:15

Absolutely not

Titsywoo · 14/01/2022 21:17

I don't ban things as I think they are too old for that but I told them years ago how bad they are for you and they appear to have stayed away from them.

MarleneDietrichsSmile · 14/01/2022 21:25

I would not buy them for my teens

But I also would be under no illusion that they'd could not be buying them for themselves anyway

At 15 most teens would have tried worse than energy drinks Grin

HailAdrian · 14/01/2022 21:26

My teen is 16 and can buy without my permission but I don't approve and she knows that.

TheCanyon · 14/01/2022 21:45

I found out last year that spar were allowing my dd12 to buy cans of monster, I absolutely lost my shit at the owner Blush but they're pretty strict now. I love caffeine as much as the not person but an energy drink is fucking dangerous.

There was chat pre covid of having an age limit on Scotland but it's not happened yet.

Bakewelltart987 · 14/01/2022 21:58

No. My ds asks all the time as his mates drink them he gets told no their is a reason they have an age on them. They are so unhealthy high in sugars and caffeine. No one needs energy drinks not even sure why they call them energy drinks tbh. If a child is generally tired then up their fruit an veg intake.

TroysMammy · 14/01/2022 21:59

I know someone who had a heart attack at 36 caused by drinking them.

Titsywoo · 14/01/2022 22:04

@TroysMammy

I know someone who had a heart attack at 36 caused by drinking them.
The last time I drank one was 22 years ago. I had 4 vodka redbulls at a friends party and spent the night wide awake with heart racing. It was terrifying. No idea why anyone would do that to themselves.
backtolifebacktoreality · 14/01/2022 22:43

My friends son was able to buy a Monster drink from the local shop. He was 13. He was incredibly unwell. Don't allow it!