Kids addicted to caffeine in a can

Published: 8:10PM Monday October 19, 2009 Source: Close Up

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Shinei de Beer is 13 and craves caffeine, but she doesn't drink tea or coffee.

She gets her caffeine from drinks like Demon, Mother, Illicit or if she is looking for an even harder hit, she grabs a shot.

Energy drinks are now available by the shot size - concentrated caffeine.

There is a limit to how much caffeine can be added to food, so manufacturers get around that by calling these shots "dietary supplements".

And even though they are labelled as not suitable for children, there is every chance you''ll find them next to the lollipops in your local store.

So if you thought 13 years of age is young to be guzzling a litre of energy drinks a day, what about seven-years-old?

Freddy Hopkins bought himself a V pocket rocket shot at a cinema in Botany - the equivalent of two strong cups of coffee - much to the horror of his dad, Anthony.

Close Up wanted to ask the energy drink companies about shots and whether they are actively targeting kids, but they all declined to comment.

Mark Sainsbury speaks live to Dr Geoff Allen from the Food Safety Authority and Green MP Sue Kedgley.

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