article_snippet.sent: Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, likened the caffeinated refreshments to ‘readily available legal highs’.
article_snippet.sent: a teaching union is now working with national drug and alcohol charity, Swanswell, to provide pupils, parents and schools with advice on energy drinks.
article_snippet.sent: The move comes as doctors warned last week that the drinks can trigger heart problems in healthy teenagers.
article_snippet.sent: ‘the drinks are becoming increasingly popular among young people and are often seen as simply like any other soft drink, but many young people and the drinks
article_snippet.sent: parents are not aware of the very high levels of stimulants that the drinks contain.
article_snippet.sent: Parents and young people need to be made aware of what these drinks contain and these drinks potential impact on behaviour.
article_snippet.sent: However, Children and pregnant women could only have one of the top five energy drink brands to get to this 200mg level, according to the report.
article_snippet.sent: Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT by Swanswell (pictured), likened the caffeinated refreshments to ‘readily available legal highs’ It also points to a Danish study that revealed over 40 per cent of energy drink consumers experienced insomnia, restlessness and heart palpitations.
article_snippet.sent: As a provider of drug and alcohol services for young people we’re concerned about excessive energy drink consumption, not least because we’re finding links to use of other substances, including alcohol, cannabis and mephadrone.
article_snippet.sent: Cardiologists in Madrid last week said the energy drinks, which contain large amounts of caffeine, may trigger sudden heart attacks and erratic heartbeats in young, apparently healthy, people.