CT Lawmakers Recommend Ban on Energy Drinks for Kids

Connecticut could be the first state in the nation banning energy drinks for kids under 16 years old.

According to an article in the New Haven Register, Sally Mancini, the Director of Advocacy at the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, has strongly recommended the implementation of an energy drink ban for children under 16, based on the Center's research.

The research suggests that not only can energy drinks be harmful to children and teens, but energy drink companies target their advertising to that specific demographic. Their research also found that these energy drinks are easily available and widely purchased by adolescents. Mancini also stated that:

Researchers have demonstrated that the high amounts of caffeine, together with other stimulants in energy drinks, lead to serious health effects, such as seizures, diabetes, and cardiac abnormalities, especially in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Energy drink reps fired back by stating that energy drinks have always been safe and claimed that caffeine levels in a cup of "coffee-house-coffee" far exceeds the levels in their product. Government officials also contend that energy drinks contain only half the caffeine compared to a cup of coffee.

According to an article in the Hartford Courant, also being considered by Connecticut lawmakers is a ban on soda and other sugary drinks from being listed on restaurants' children's menu.

While we're at it, how about we introduce a law that limits the time a child can play video games so he or she can turn out to be a functioning adult? How about another law that requires children to perform one hour of exercise, 5 days a week.