Teachers and parents in Manchester have backed calls for a ban on selling energy drinks to kids.
The high caffeine drinks are not recommended for kids but more and more teachers are encountering behaviour problems among pupils - some of whom are having them for breakfast.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is leading the campaign to ban the sale of high energy drinks to youngsters - something the government last week said it will now consider.
Earlier this month Waitrose became the first UK supermarket to restrict the sale to over 16s and the teachers’ union, NASUWT, has also called for a ban.
While parents and teachers in Manchester support the move, many fear it won't stop children getting their hands on them.
Nina Heatley is a teacher at Levenshulme High School where the drinks are banned. But she says that doesn't stop the problem.
She said: "It doesn’t stop kids bringing them in bags or having them for breakfast. Obviously a ban on selling them to under 18s would help, but the deeper issue is lack of nutritional awareness amongst teenagers who are left to get their own breakfasts and lunches. It’s about educating kids about nutrition and healthy choices."
She described the behaviour problems that teaching staff encounter as a result of youngsters having the drinks.
She said: "It's usually hyperactivity - leading to behaviour such as shouting out, inability to sit in seats - lack of concentration followed by a complete slump later in the day.
"There is also the impact on health as the pupils fill up on sugar instead of healthy carbs and protein.
"The long effects being they are missing out on essential nutrients and brain food, which in short term leads to inability to concentrate and retain information and longer term contributes to poor health, obesity, low immune systems therefore impacting attendance."
Energy drinks such as Red Bull, Relentless, Monster Energy and Rockstar are among an ever-widening range and Oliver has warned the popular beverages are 'akin to drugs' and 'turning our kids' into addicts.
Many brands contain 160mg of caffeine per 500ml. A 10-year-old should not consume more than 99mg per day. But a recent European Food Safety Authority study found up to two-thirds of teens and a quarter of under-10s consume the drinks.
