I don't want to sound pedantic or smug, but I think maybe coca-cola should be banned for children too. Perhaps not illegal but just not for sale for children. I think social media should be similar. 16+ at least
I agree that parents should have much more responsibility on these matters, but not in exchange for state influence, at least in the US. 40M+ adults lack basic literacy to inform themselves well enough to pass on to their kids. Another 65M only have enough literacy to make low-level inferences and compare/contrast [0].
I’d rather govt (which has many channels for advocacy even if flawed) influence choices than corporations completely control the panopticon of choices (where small time spenders have very little consumer power).
But we’re not far apart. As you mention schools (of the state) are a good place to start.
It's not in law, but some supermarkets in New Zealand age restrict energy drinks to 16+.
On the one hand it strikes me as being kind of silly, because those same kids could buy a coffee/iced coffee with just as much sugar and often even more caffeine in it just fine.
On the other hand I do see how the differing marketing/pricing on each product means you can't treat them as equivalent. Probably a good case for voluntary age restrictions by retailers rather than actual laws.
285mg of caffeine in a 300ml bottle. Energy drinks are already regulated to max out at 320mg per litre (so that would be 96 mg max in a 300ml bottle, I guess "weak energy drinks" would be the answer to your question).
Although that does have less sugar - 6.5g per 100ml compared to the 11g per 100ml in Red Bull.
Now I'm curious about what qualifies as an energy drink, I guess it must be based on marketing?
