Energy drinks were responsible for 43 per cent of caffeine exposure for children aged three to 10.More needs to be done to warn parents about the dangers of energy drinks to children, a Welsh Assembly Member has said.
Jenny Rathbone expressed concern that the makers of caffeine laced beverages are actively marketing their products to children.
She demanded that the Welsh Government takes action in raising awareness about the potential risks to youngsters.
Fellow Labour AMs also claimed drinks such as Monster and Red Bull are having a detrimental effect on children’s concentration levels as well as their health.
Rathbone said: “Energy drinks are a multimillion pound business which is growing faster than any other sector of the drinks industry.
“Worldwide sales increased by 14 per cent in 2011 and that’s despite being in the middle of a global recession.
“My focus is on energy drinks because of the stimulants they contain, mainly caffeine, which are harmful to children.
“Most of us are aware that coffee is not suitable for children. That is not unfortunately the case for energy drinks.
“Each small 250ml energy drink typically contains around 80mm of caffeine. That is equivalent to a cup of coffee – or three times the amount of caffeine in a can of cola.
“The problem is these caffeine-loaded energy drinks are specifically targeted at young people – both in their name and their labelling and their promotion at sporting events and music festivals.”
Rathbone raised the issue during a Member’s debate in the Senedd, Cardiff.
She cited a survey from the European Food Standards Agency – claiming energy drinks were responsible for 43 per cent of caffeine exposure for children aged three to 10.
The British Soft Drinks Association (BDSA) said its code of conduct explicitly stated that high caffeine content soft drinks were not suitable for children.
BSDA director general Gavin Partington added: “We specify that this information should be clearly stated on the label of such drinks.
“It also states that high caffeine soft drinks should not be promoted or marketed to those under 16.
“We believe this approach is the responsible way to ensure parents have the information necessary to decide what is right for their families.”
Red Bull said its products were available in more than 165 countries because “health authorities across the world have concluded that it was safe to consume”.
A company spokeswoman added: “One 250ml can of Red Bull contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, which is 80mg.
“In general, children should consume less caffeine than adults due to their lower body weight.
“For this reason, we don’t recommend Red Bull energy drink to children.
“We communicate this message on our cans which is in line with EU law.”