Beverley school bans energy drinks
A Beverley secondary school has banned pupils from consuming high-energy drinks because it is making them hyperactive and unable to concentrate in class.
Beverley High School, which is one of the East Riding's top performing schools, is now asking local stores not to sell the caffeine and sugar-rich drinks to children.
Some pupils are understood to have been consuming several bottles of the high energy drinks after spending their dinner money on buy one, get one free offers.
Parents are being advised the drinks will not now be allowed in school so they should not be supplied for packed lunches, school trips or sporting activities.
Any such drinks found in the possession of pupils will be confiscated. Parents will be asked to collect the drinks or they will be disposed of.
Headteacher Sharon Japp told parents in a letter: "As a school we take our pupils' health and wellbeing very seriously and we are concerned about the impact these products could be having on our pupils' health and ability to perform in school during the day.
"Our main concerns are that these drinks contain high levels of caffeine and sugar that when ingested can potentially be dangerous in the short and long term. Caffeine is the main worry as it acts as a stimulant and affects the heart and central nervous system, it can also increase blood pressure."
Clare Breen, assistant head at the girls' school in Norwood, said some pupils have been consuming up to three bottles of the drinks during the school day.
She told the Mail: "It appeared to be making them quite restless and hyperactive, so it was difficult for them to concentrate.
"We realised it had become quite a big problem, particularly because of buy-one-get-one-free offers."
A spokeswoman for Tesco, which has a store near the school, said: "There is currently no legislation which would allow us, or any other retailer, to ban the sale of any energy drink to children – though labels on the products do say that they are not suitable for this age group.
"However, we take our responsibilities to the communities we serve very seriously. We will always try to work, within reason, with schools, police and all local bodies to provide any support we can."
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by Steve, AR
Monday, November 30 2009, 4:40PM
“Billy, Hull. Three and a quarter hours for a PS that's very
S¿¿.L¿¿..O¿¿¿W
and you still got it wrong. You said, "Lucozade sport does not contain sugar," then what is glucose?
Why can't you accept the school's findings that their pupils are taking drinks, which contain high levels of caffeine and sugar? Do you think that they can't read what it says on the confiscated containers or do you know better sat in front of your keyboard or crystal ball?”
by Billy, Hull
Monday, November 30 2009, 12:28PM
“PS Lucozade sport does not contain sugar or caffeine, except the caffeine boost one.
But the way this drink issue has been played out by the school they are trying to make it all high energy drinks do so.”
by Billy, Hull
Monday, November 30 2009, 9:13AM
“Well not as slow as you Steve, I well know that Red Bull is not suitable for kids, but as I have pointed out that drink of choice that kids take to school is Lucozade Sport, maybe you need to read a bit better before going off on a tangent.”
by Steve, AR
Sunday, November 29 2009, 9:59PM
“Billy, Hull. You really are slow and I don't think high-energy drinks will help you as you're beyond the point of no return as evidenced by your posts.
Google for example, 'drinks pupil behaviour' and see what turns up. By chance, do you see a Guardian report "Schools warned of pupils hooked on energy drinks"?
In that report is a comment from a Red Bull spokesman who said, "In general, children are more sensitive to caffeine than adults. This is why we do not recommend Red Bull to caffeine-sensitive individuals, including children."
Also, there is no need for this continuous sipping of fluid because land animals have developed over millions of years to control their water content without this current fad. I had no problem completing the Lyke Wake Walk, 40 miles across the North York Moors in very good time, with one small flask of yes, coffee and it was summer.
Kids sitting in class for a couple of hours at most without drinking, don't make me laugh. They just want the nuisance value.”
by Billy, Hull
Sunday, November 29 2009, 9:10PM
“What puzzles me is who brought this story to the HDM, the school or a parent and why.
If it is the school, then they have made themselves look stupid making claims that they cannot back up wiht hard evidence, i.e. a study would have to be conducted to prove that the behaviour of the children is affected by these drinks.
Also what are they talking about, high energy drinks such as Red Bull are usually in cans and therefore how do these kids manage to carry open cans into lessons or are they citing Lucozade Sport.
And finally are the teachers of these school going to also stop consuming these drinks as wel as several cups of tea or coffee in a day.
Steve have you tried Lucozade Sport. it taste a lot better then water and is hardly a fad, next you will be saying coffee lol.”