Doctors and parents support Dubai school’s health warning over consuming energy drink

Doctors and parents have backed a Dubai school’s ban on the Prime Energy drink – a can of which contains double the recommended daily caffeine intake for children.

Gems World Academy officials have written to parents to highlight the potential side effects of excessive consumption of the drink.

These include increased heart rate, anxiety and addiction.

The brightly coloured cans and bottled drinks produced by the brand – founded and promoted by YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI – are in high demand worldwide.

Although the company’s own website states its energy drink should not be consumed by under 18s, the appeal of the social media stars to younger people has raised concerns.

Dr Kiran Kumar Rai, head of department and a specialist paediatrician at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, told The National that some young patients have experienced anxiety, high blood pressure and heart rate and depression after regularly consuming energy drinks. “Many of these children admit that they take these beverages to have an energy boost,” said Dr Rai.

“They usually start with one drink due to peer pressure.

“Their friends will recommend saying it will keep them awake for the exams or make them more energy and stamina during sports tournament.

“Then it soon becomes an addiction,” he said.

Dr Rai said most energy drinks available on the market contain excess sugar, caffeine, sodium and stimulants.

“The upper limit of caffeine for children per day is 100mg and 400mg for adults,” he said. “But some of these drinks have more than the allowed limit, and it is not iterated.

“Imagine, children drinking several of these cans a day.

“They are unable to sleep at night and develop anxiety and even depression.”

Dr Rai said teachers, coaches and parents should dissuade children from these drinks.

“They should be able to buy it only under parental discretion,” he said.

Each 355ml can of Prime Energy contains a 200mg dose

Some young patients have experienced anxiety and high blood pressure after regularly having energy drinks

of caffeine, according to the company’s website.

For comparison, a 250ml can of rival energy drink Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine.

Prime advises pregnant women and people who are sensitive to caffeine not to consume the Energy version of its drink.

It said its Prime Hydration drink is suitable for children.

Radwa Allaban, a British Egyptian mother of three boys, told The National that she “fully supports” the ban of these products in schools.

“I do not allow my children to any energy drinks, though all the boys are athletes. I have noticed that it makes them jittery and irritable and very short fused,” said Ms Allaban.

“But I once gave in and allowed one of them, simply because of his peer pressure.

Everyone was consuming it and he also wanted. But I know that it is not good for athletes.

“They should ideally have nutritious and energy dense snacks during competitions and not energy drinks.”

Anjali Menon, an Indian mother who lives in Dubai, told The National energy drinks are an “absolute no” for her two daughters, Neha 16, and Shreya, 11.

“My daughters are into sports and have a lot of peer pressure to have energy drinks,” Ms Menon said.

“I prefer the good old milkshake or a banana for that energy spike. So, I do not allow them to have those beverages.”

But she said it was a challenge to keep children away from unhealthy products.

“They prefer saltier and sweeter foods, which in turn increases their risk of developing diabetes and other lifestyle diseases,” she said.

She said schools should promote healthy food and drinks.

“Encourage, through recognition programmes, children to eat clean and wholesome food and drink fresh juice and smoothies,” said Ms Menon.