The Australian Medical Association calls for age-restrictions on energy drinks following significant rise in the number of teens affected by adverse effects.
Health experts from the University of Sydney and the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre warned that reports of reactions caused by drinks such as Red Bull and V jumped from just 12 in 2004 to 65 in 2010.
According to their report published in the Medical Journal of Australia, during the 7 years period 297 calls for assistance were recorded with at least 128 people hospitalized due to over-consumption of the highly caffeinated drinks.
The symptoms included heart palpitations, agitation and stomach upsets and even seizures and hallucinations in some cases.
The median age of people who were affected by the drinks was 17 years and more among those who mixed energy drinks with alcohol.
“Given the clear evidence of toxicity and the growing number of hospitalizations associated with consumption of energy drinks, particularly in a vulnerable adolescent population, health authorities should increase awareness of the problem, improve package labeling and regulate caffeine content,” experts noted.
They suggested that energy drinks should carry warning labels similar to those for non-prescription, over-the-counter caffeine tablets.
The request has already been rejected by the Australian Beverages Council representing energy drink industry by saying that the country has the strongest regulation of all world markets.
