Doctor calls for health warning on stimulant drinks

STIMULANT drinks which are high in caffeine must be regulated in the same way as our tobacco industry if people are to be saved from the growing culture of alcohol-induced violence, a doctor warned yesterday.

Most people who consume stimulants mix them with alcohol. Misleading advertising claims must be banned and people need to know more about the harmful effects of consuming such high doses of caffeine, particularly when mixed with alcohol, Dr Margaret Fitzgerald told a toxicology conference yesterday.

“When these drinks were first manufactured, the appeal was that it boosted endurance and was great for exercise and heavy sports. But research shows that it takes huge amounts of water to counteract the diuretic effects. Timing is critical.