Pediatricians Group Raps Energy and Sports Drinks for Kids
American Academy of Pediatrics says sports drinks mostly
unnecessary; energy drinks dangerous for minors. Although sports
drinks and energy drinks are marketed heavily toward children
and teens, a leading association of pediatricians is sounding
the alarm about these beverages for kids. Young children and
teens should avoid energy drinks entirely, the American Academy
of Pediatrics said in a report issued Monday, and routine
consumption of sports drinks should be limited or eliminated.
"There's no place for energy drinks for kids," said report co-
author Dr. Marcie Beth Schneider, an adolescent physician in
Greenwich, Conn. "There's a place for sports drinks, but that
place is very specific." Energy drinks include such popular
brands as Red Bull, AMP and Rockstar and tend to be heavily
caffeinated, potentially having several times the level of
caffeine found in a cup of coffee. Manufacturers often add sugar
and herbal stimulants such as guarana and tau