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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:
Rainbowshit · 15/01/2022 00:10

No. Absolutely not.

Therealrealitystar · 15/01/2022 00:16

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MrsKDB · 15/01/2022 09:22

@Therealrealitystar

He’ll do it anyway Hmm. Give me strength.
Of course they might try them but that is different to facilitating it. Would you buy your teens cocaine? Those drinks are incredibly dangerous and addictive.
FatLabrador · 15/01/2022 11:28

I think it's a bit OTT to compare it to hard drugs. The main stimulant in them is caffiene and they contain about the same as 1 or 2 cups of strong coffee. Plus they can be high in sugar. Still these drinks are only a problem for most people if taken regularly and I think the main problem is when teens are using them to stay up all night gaming and then go to school and use the drinks to stay awake. So its also an unhealthy lifestyle problem and the drinks are just part of it.

Original poster
CherryFlavourOwl · 15/01/2022 15:06

@Therealrealitystar oh I know he will and thats absolutely fine. Same with alcohol or a crafty fag. I understand teenagers as A I've had one and B I was one

My issue isn't what he does behind my back, teens doing this stuff is normal. My issue is facilitating it and I wondered what other parents did

Anyway I've told him no and now he will have to do it behind my back if he really wants to or it'll mean he holds off for a while longer and respects what I've said on the matter

OP posts:
backtolifebacktoreality · 15/01/2022 15:10

@FatLabrador

I think it's a bit OTT to compare it to hard drugs. The main stimulant in them is caffiene and they contain about the same as 1 or 2 cups of strong coffee. Plus they can be high in sugar. Still these drinks are only a problem for most people if taken regularly and I think the main problem is when teens are using them to stay up all night gaming and then go to school and use the drinks to stay awake. So its also an unhealthy lifestyle problem and the drinks are just part of it.

If they have the same caffeine as a coffee, why are the government banning them in the UK? Check this out ...

Do you allow your teen to have energy drinks?
Beinggood2 · 21/09/2022 16:53

@CherryFlavourOwl

I know this is an old thread.

But at the moment having same issue with my DS 15 told him he shouldn't be drinking them.
Not monster or red bull the silver cans with a lot of caffeine in it. And he had ADHD doesn't need it.
Be interested to know what happened in the end in your experience with situation.

Beinggood2 · 21/09/2022 16:54

*has ADHD

Lucy Long Socks · 21/09/2022 17:57

Absolutely not. They are bad for you and can cause anxiety type symptoms.
My 15 year old will buy the odd one. She knows she's not allowed through. They will push boundaries. I'm not going to allow her to drink as many as she likes just because as some say, she'll do it anyway. She does. But very rarely. As opposed to loads, if I allowed it. At least its this and not smoking or something.

CherryFlavouredOwl · 21/09/2022 18:29

@Beinggood2 I've name changed back to reply to you!

Nothing much happened tbh. I said no, I said there wasn't much I said about absolute no to but that this was it.

He didn't mention it again and now we are approaching his 16th birthday so he's that bit older. I've not seen any sign of him drinking them but I'm sure he's had the odd one when out with mates

I'd just stand firm or find a compromise with him

BeanieTeen · 21/09/2022 18:32

No. I’d rather he had a beer than an energy drink. Horrible stuff.

itsjustnotok · 21/09/2022 18:36

Having drunk energy drinks I wouldn’t let him personally. I ended up with palpitations. When I looked into it some of the repercussions were frightening.

Beinggood2 · 21/09/2022 19:12

CherryFlavouredOwl · 21/09/2022 18:29

@Beinggood2 I've name changed back to reply to you!

Nothing much happened tbh. I said no, I said there wasn't much I said about absolute no to but that this was it.

He didn't mention it again and now we are approaching his 16th birthday so he's that bit older. I've not seen any sign of him drinking them but I'm sure he's had the odd one when out with mates

I'd just stand firm or find a compromise with him

My son been getting them and he knows he not allowed to drink them. You can't really stop them like you say odd one okay but too many not good.
I noticed this a lot lately but had to remind him they are not good for him.

Thanks for responding and sorry I made you change back into this nic.
I appreciate it.

Hoppinggreen · 21/09/2022 19:16

My 13 year old isn’t allowed them at home but he sometimes goes into Town with his mates and at 6ft he certainly looks old enough to buy them so I suspect he does.

CherryFlavouredOwl · 21/09/2022 20:36

@Beinggood2 it's a tough age I know. If he's generally speaking ok in other areas then I wouldn't make this the hill you die on. I also wouldn't be condoning it either.

So tricky as like we know, how do we stop them?

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