Waitrose is going to end sales of high caffeine energy drinks to under-16s

@AcidBurn well, there is that. But if they all followed the lead then it’s great for children’s health. These things have to start somewhere. And they are kids - if they only live near a Waitrose then they’re less likely to go all the way to another supermarket to get one

@pixlexia They won't follow suit. They all now have this advantage over their competition. They offer something waitrose doesn't. In a business with a lot of competition and slim margins, that's a big deal.
I have an idea... How about the parents worry about what their kid is doing? Or better yet, target something that is actually harmful. Are they still selling kids candy and other sugar and fat loaded foods? Of course they are. But there's a bunch of misinformed people targeting energy drinks, so they think they can capitalize on it by looking like the "good guy".

@AcidBurn i see what you mean, but I hope you’re wrong.
If parents could stop kids from buying too many energy drinks then most probably would - but it’s hard for them when they’re buying them on the way to school and things. What can the parents actually do? This is where it all comes from anyway, as many teenagers skip breakfast and buy energy drinks instead because they think it will give them enough energy for the day when it actually only gives a small burst.

@pixlexia You can't tell me you don't think parents have control over their kids. Parents that care enough to not want their kids drinking such drinks have put in the work with their kids. Their kids will understand why their parents don't want them drinking them.
But I ask you this: A fluid ounce of typical filter coffee has 18mg of caffeine. A fluid ounce of a typical Rockstar or Monster has 10mg of caffeine. Starbucks coffee, a fluid ounce of their coffee has 22.5mg of caffeine. How are energy drinks a problem? Like I said, it's a group of misinformed people making a whole lot of noise. In some cases their spineless politicians are crumbling to them. It's really quite sad.

@AcidBurn energy drinks themselves aren’t the problem. The problem comes with secondary school children skipping meals and relying on cheap energy drinks instead, which is obviously not healthy. Children do not need that much sugar or caffeine especially at 8 in the morning. If parents are at work, and their 14-15 year olds are walking to school, with their friends who do the same thing, then what can they do to stop it? They’re not there to stop them and even taking money away won’t make any difference, the super cheap ones only cost 35p.
It is a problem - I live near a secondary school and see it all the time. I remember so many people doing that when I was in secondary school and I used to do it myself sometimes, but it’s not healthy and not necessary. It makes them hyper until they crash, and either of those is not helpful for good behaviour. Yeah, maybe it isn’t the biggest problem in the world that they could be dealing with, but it’s a step in the right direction and it won’t be that hard to put in place.

@pixlexia You can pass the parent's responsibility all you want. Not letting them have an energy drink is not going to get them to eat breakfast. They'll stop at that same store and just load up on sugary junk food instead of caffeine and B vitamins.
By the way, I've been drinking several sugar free energy drinks a day for years and I'm quite healthy.