02/03/2026
Umm WOW. I have just been told that Maccas in Queensland and NSW are now selling RedBull and RedBull drinks. Now some of you know my thoughts on these with kids and teens but let's break it down.
Everyday at work I see kids drinking energy drink on their way to school and a lot of the time not the 250ml cans but the much bigger ones. Did you know that:
- World Health Organisation recommendation of an upper limit of 6 teaspoons (25g) of added sugar per day. In one 250ml can there is 27gram of sugar!! Crazy! As it is a drink too it is more likely to sit on teeth for longer and causes more decay. This is also the recommendation for pediatric dental
- It contains more caffeine then you would have in your morning espresso. So imaging getting 2 espresso's in the morning and putting more than 3 teaspoons of sugar in each!
Psychology today even talks about how:
Mechanisms of Sugar-Induced Brain Dysfunction
Excess sugar can contribute to insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which impair glucose utilization in the brain. High dietary fructose, common in sweetened beverages, may also promote inflammation and long-term cognitive deficits without significantly raising blood glucose. Additionally, repeated consumption of sugary foods can alter the brainโs reward pathways, potentially leading to cravings and reduced impulse control by affecting inhibitory neurons in the prefrontal cortex.
When impulse control is so difficult for so many do we really want to weaken it?
As adults we can make more informed decisions as we understand this information. Kids cannot yet. Starbucks, another popular store sell pink drinks and refresher drinks that also contain caffeine and yet as so often wanted by teens and kids, why because influencers and famous people promote and drink them.
So the next time the kids want a fancy drink, or try and order their maccas on an app do you actually know what it is they are ordering and what it contains? These fancy names of drinks can often hide what they are really about.