Hansard

As others have done, I sincerely thank my friend and colleague Graeme Dey for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is on an important issue, and I am delighted that the motion gathered support from members of most of the parties that are represented in the Parliament.

I vividly remember a parliamentary by-election in Aberdeen a number of years ago during which a number of us fuelled ourselves with copious amounts of a particular energy drink. I will not be discourteous and mention its name but, despite the branding, nobody on the campaign team appeared to notice the wings that I had sprouted. Once the campaign was over, I and others who had fuelled themselves thoroughly with the stuff to get ourselves through some very long days found that we had experienced headaches and light-headedness.

That was when I truly became aware of the damaging impact that the stuff was having on my person, and goodness knows what it was doing to others. Therefore, it has long been my view that highly caffeinated food and drink products should not be consumed by children and young people. It is clear to me and to many other members that the artificial increase of a person’s pulse rate through chemical induction cannot be good for anyone, never mind a person who is still in the stages of development.

Graeme Dey spoke of the experiences that teachers in his constituency have had with disruptive pupils who were sold energy drinks down the street at lunch time. I can confirm that that is not just a problem in Angus South. Teachers in my constituency in Stirling know all too well of the detrimental effect of energy drinks on the behaviour of children and young people.

What a potentially devastating prospect it is. The education experiences of children and young people are being impacted on by potentially dangerously high levels of caffeine and even taurine buzzing about in their systems. As we have heard, a report in the BMJ has cited links between the consumption of energy drinks and higher rates of headaches, stomachaches, hyperactivity and insomnia.

The physical damage that can be done through perpetual headaches and stomachaches alongside the altering of a person’s heart rate are bad enough. However, it is now clear that induced hyperactivity and insomnia as a result of consumption of this stuff can pose a real risk to a person’s mental health. Young people who are still developing through their teenage years are particularly vulnerable. Indeed, researchers at the World Health Organization agree that there is a

“proven negative effect of caffeine on children”.

The same researchers recommend that the sale of energy drinks to children and adolescents ought to be restricted, as is rightly highlighted in Graeme Dey’s motion.

How do we tackle the problem? All retailers, from supermarkets to corner shops, should take the lead, and I am delighted that some shops in my constituency have already done so. However, just last week, I passed a self-service checkout in a local supermarket and saw a gentleman who was purchasing energy drinks and who was rather irritated because he had to wait an additional few seconds while checks were carried out. I understand why he was irritated. Some consumers will oppose the moves, because they want their shopping experience to be as smooth as possible. That is understandable, but that inconvenience pales into insignificance when we consider the potential impact that energy drinks are having on the health and education of our children and young people.

The restriction is a necessary measure, and I encourage more retailers in my constituency to take the lead on the issue. That is a start but, for the good of our children and young people, let us do more. In the long term, that might include our legislating, albeit reluctantly, if supermarkets and stores cannot deliver through voluntary action.

I again thank Graeme Dey for bringing this important matter to the chamber for debate.