Energy Drinks: NOT like Coffee!

I’d like to spend some time this month talking about the prevalence of so-called “Energy Drinks” that I’ve seen at RCI. In accordance with our school’s nutrition policy, no energy drinks are sold at school. That of course does not stop students from getting their hands on them. Kids argue that drinks such as Red Devil, Monster, and Amp are “no different than a cup of coffee”. Don’t believe this statement! Some energy drinks have the same caffeine content as 2 espressos or as much as 6 cans of Coca-Cola!

The other issue is that a teenager’s body is NOTHING like that of an adult. Hormonal levels are different, the required nutritional intake is different, and all credible research states that teens’ minds are still developing. By ingesting a significant amount of a stimulant such as caffeine to a still-developing teen, what are the long-term effects? We simply don’t know, as these items have been on the market for less than a decade, and teens have only been an acknowledged target for advertising in recent years.

RCI will not enforce a “ban” on energy drinks. They are not sold on-site; and so it is up to parents and students to make healthy choices themselves. It is quite a different situation when someone in their 20s, 30s, or 40s (or older) has a can of Red Bull to help them last through a long day, than it is for a 15 year old to have one for breakfast. That isn’t hypocrisy, that’s reality. “Just cause mom and dad do it”, isn’t the right reason for a teenager to follow suit.

If parent have any additional questions around the content of energy drinks, lots of information is available online. Just Google “Energy Drinks”!


Mr. SheppardPrincipal