We all know the names, Black Stallion, Buzz Monkey, Cocaine, Hero, Lift Plus, Lucozade, Mother, Red Bull, Red Eye, Rock, Rockstar, V – We ALL know someone who has tasted one of these products at least once in their life, perhaps they have had more than a ‘taste’.
I am targeting one brand at the moment that appears to breaking all sorts of moral rules and regulations.
I am currently looking at a can of Rockstar energy drink, no big deal you say, this can is 710ml in volume, 22cm tall and 7cm in diameter and it looks HUGE. I mean a can of coke is just over ½ the size of this can.
The can itself, other than looking HUGE looks harmless UNTIL you roll the can over and read:- Usage: Consume no more than 500ml per day. Yet this can is packaged at 710ml – so who in their right mind would measure half the can, then re-seal it, so that it may be consumed the day after?
Why is this company that admits there are health concerns (Product contains caffeine. This product is not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women, or individuals sensitive to caffeine. Consume responsibly) package their money earning products in such volumes which they openly admit is over the daily limit?
(please click to enlarge)
*All figures are above the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake)
These drinks are advertised as giving you a pick-me-up when you are a little tired, giving you more energy and get up and go than any other product on the market.
Some of the health concerns raised are:- severe tooth decay, heart problems, tooth staining, liver damage, kidney damage, diabetes, Nausea, vomiting.
Deaths have occurred when mixing Vodka and Energy Drinks. Some countries have banned the product from being retailed in the country due to health concerns.
Some confirmed health issues are whole mouth tooth decay, reduction in bone density, which leads to fractures and breaks, aggression, heart palpitations, kidney failure, liver failure, headaches, heart failure, dehydration.
These are just some of the concerns, along with the manufacturers OWN Admission that the product is not recommended for children or individuals sensitive to caffeine.
At what age are you considered no longer a child and who is monitoring the purchase of these products? If a milkbar owner sells one of these cans to a child of 14-15yo – who is monitoring the milkbar owner?
Is it his responsibility or should these products be removed from sale and only be allowed sold on/in licensed premises?
Your thoughts and ideas appreciated - perhaps the voices of the public need to be heard above the voices of the conusmers?
Let your thoughts be known!
Posts
Ban 'em. Chew a couple of coffee beans instead. While you can't limit how strong people will drink their coffee, there is no reason why the amount of caffeine in these manufactured drinks can't be set at a reasonable level.
ReplyDeleteHI Andrew
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see these types of drinks banned - but that is not the way Australia works - what concenrs me the most is the sheer SIZE of THIS can - HOW is it permitted to be sold on the Australian Market in a size that is CLEARLY beyond what I would consider for human consumption.
THAT IS WHAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL - although I won't (and never) have drunk the product - due to the health issues raised by the ingredients
Thanks for you comment
Well, we differ there. I do plenty of things that are bad for my my health. Adding more caffeine by the way of soft drink to my diet is not one of them. It is not something that young people should be encouraged to drink, but if they think they get a charge from it, it might just be better than alternatives. Everything now is over sized. The content is what matters.
ReplyDeleteThe contents within the SIZE of the can are the issue - the product is legal, the SIZE of THIS can is the issue - Every can this size is serving MORE than the RDI* (refer above) That is the biggest issue.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the product, that is my personal choice, the product being the ingredients, regardless of the size.
The issue of this post IS THE SIZE. Why is such a volume allowed to be marketed to the AU public, when it clearly breaches ALL guidelines. This is coming at a time when the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Association) is reviewing the classifications of these products, simply due to the ingredients.
The size of this can exceeds even the manufacturers RDI* - therefore something is missing on the regulation side of things.
As for kids needing ‘kicks’ when we were kids – did we need ‘kicks’ like this – or did we go out the back and climb a tree or ride our bikes down the biggest steepest hill we could find?
Kids need more from life than artificial kicks like this – they need to experience life and realize it’s not just about the next high