• Marilyn Krawitz and Justine Howard want kids banned from buying high-caffeine energy drinks. Photo by Steve Grant.

HEALTH experts want the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks like Red Bull restricted to adults only.

In WA children of any age can buy the products — in any quantity — despite evidence of signficant health problems from over-consumption.

“Excessive energy drink consumption has also allegedly contributed to the death of teenagers in the United States of America,” says Notre Dame University health law lecturer Marilyn Krawitz.

“Energy drinks have high amounts of caffeine, particularly when compared to other caffeinated drinks, such as the average coffee.”

Colleague Justine Howard, a nurse and lawyer, says small amounts of caffeine are safe for youngsters.

She’d prefer to be able to rely on educating consumers about safe levels, but concedes warning labels have failed.

Warnings are in fine print and on the back of cans or bottles, which means they’re rarely visible in a shop’s fridge.

Dr Krawitz also wants “stringent” advertising restrictions, “including the distribution channels and daily time in which these products are promoted”.

In their research into health laws regulating energy drinks, they discovered Lithuania has banned the products’ sale to minors and a couple of US states are considering similar legislation.

by STEVE GRANT