I RECENTLY witnessed a transaction being made in a shop that shocked me, not only because it was an energy drink being sold to an under 16 year old child, but also because this child should have been in school being registered.

I asked the shop assistant why they had sold the product without asking for ID and was told that they only sell one per child.

I have always believed that as an adult and parent that I have a community responsibility to our young people. This Energy drink was 45 pence, it is an unhealthy and potentially dangerous drink.

The nature of these drinks is that they contain high levels of caffeine designed to be consumed by adults which can be highly addictive. 

I work in a school and see the profound effects that energy drinks have on behaviour throughout the day, ranging from hyperactivity, to slumps in energy which impacts on learning.

Lorraine Sharp