One of Britain’s leading teaching unions is calling for schools to be banned from selling energy drinks to children aged under 16 due to the large amount of caffeine they contain.

The National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) is describing the drinks as “readily available legal highs” that can cause headaches and palpitations, as well as contributing to poor behaviour.

Darrent Northcott from the NASUWT says “Teachers have registered concerns with the NASUWT about the contribution of high energy drinks to poor pupil behaviour as a result of pupils consuming excessive quantities of these drinks.”

The warning comes following a report from FUSE, the Centre for Transitional Research in Public Health in the North East, showing that children as young as 10 years of age are buying the drinks at a cheaper cost than water and fizzy drinks. The drinks are often sold in promotions that sell four of the drinks for £1.00, meaning children can pool their money and buy the drinks for as little as 25p.

The investigation also found that children were buying the drinks to fit in “or “look tough” − the drinks are often promoted via online adverts, computer games and sports sponsorship.

– Sally Robertson

Read more: Teachers Call For Ban On Energy Drinks

Photo source – Unsplash