Jenny Rathbone AM has welcomed a commitment from Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills, to look what schools can do to stop school children consuming caffeine loaded energy drinks.
In response to Jenny Rathbone’s question in the Senedd about the dangers of energy drinks, the Minister acknowledged the impact these drinks have on children’s behaviour, which gets in the way of their learning, and today asked his officials to look into the problem as part of the Healthy School Initiative.
The Minister said:
“I believe that Jenny Rathbone’s concern is well founded. It is concerning enough that our young people are exposed to too much in the way of sugary drinks, without those drinks also being laced with caffeine. As a result of Jenny Rathbone’s question, I will instruct officials to look at the regulatory basis of what might be happening elsewhere in the UK, with a view to taking a long, hard look at what could be achieved in Wales in a devolved context”.
Jenny Rathbone AM said:
“There is growing awareness of the harm these so called energy drinks can cause. Manufacturers are targeting children and young people, some of whom are using them as a substitute for proper food and drink. I am delighted that our Education Minister is taking this problem seriously.
“Morrisons supermarket has led the way by banning their sale to anyone who is under age and even John Vincent who wrote Michael Gove’s latest School Food Plan for England describes energy drinks as ‘another form of drugs’. Manchester schools have banned energy drinks I am hopeful the Education Minister’s initiative today will lead to caffeinated drinks being outlawed in Welsh schools too.”
