New York county mulls energy drink ban for kids

By Staff Writer

Lawmakers in a New York county are considering banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to individuals under the age of 19.

According to WNBC 4 out of New York, community leaders are concerned about the health hazards that energy drinks pose on children, such as anxiety, nervousness, high blood pressure and insomnia. The ban, which would apply to drinks with more than 80 milligrams of caffeine, would be the first of its kind in the U.S.

Some argue that a proposed ban on energy drinks is without merit. A statement from the American Beverage Association, a trade group that represents companies that distribute these drinks, said that energy beverages contain about half the caffeine of a similar size cup of coffee, according to the news provider. The group argued that to be consistent, coffeehouses would have to start carding customers if that was the law for energy drinks.

FamilyEducation.com says that too much caffeine can negatively effect a child's health and development. The website suggests that parents should limit their child's soda consumption to parties and special occasions, and caffeinated drinks should not be a substitute for more nutritious beverages like milk.

The website also recommends that parents talk with their child's school administrators to make sure that soda is not being marketed to kids in school.