Mega-influencers KSI and Logan Paul's energy drink banned in Australian schools
By Nikolina Koevska Kharoufeh |
A? popular energy drink created by worldwide mega-influencers KSI and Logan Paul is being banned in school across Australia, as kids get their hands on the product online.
Prime Energy drinks are not available in Australia due to the amount of caffeine they contain, though teenagers and young children are purchasing the drinks online and bringing them to school.
Schools are now issuing warnings to parents? to try to contain the problem, saying the product is in such high demand that kids are ignoring the warning labels on the bottles.
"It clearly states on the packaging that these drinks are 'not suitable for children under 15 years of age'," warns Jemille Malouf Principal of Miami State School in Queensland.
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International influencers KSI and Logan Paul, who between them have over 40 million YouTube subscribers, were in Australia in February launching Prime Hydration - another in their line of sell-out drinks.
The pair were unable to simultaneously launch Prime Energy, which is currently sold out across the US and UK, ?as it went against Australian regulations.
The drink contains almost double the legal limit of caffeine at 200mg in each 335ml can.
Though this hasn't stopped Australian fans from ?getting their hands on the cans, which are being resold on websites such as eBay for over $24 a can.
And now these young fans are bringing the drinks into Australian schools, to the worry of teachers and parents.
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On Monday Miami State School in Queensland issued a statement on their Facebook, warning parents of the drink.
"Recently, we have noticed some students bringing in drinks called Prime Energy drinks. This is a new elite athlete drink that is in high demand," Principle Jemille Malouf wrote.
The drink is banned at the school, students now forbidden ?from bringing it onto school grounds.
Concerned parents applauding the schools action on the matter. "These drinks are a health risk to our children- an example of the power social media has on young minds!?" one mum commented on the post.
"Thank you for putting safe boundaries in place for our children."
Other schools which have enforced the ban include Swanbourne and Mount Hawthorn primary schools in Perth and Maryborough State High School in Queensland.
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The maximum amount of caffeine a drink in Australia is allowed to contain is 32mg per 100ml - a standard enforced by The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
One 335ml can of Prime Energy drink contains 200mgs of caffeine, which equates to around 56mg per 100ml.?
?A 2021 study by the The University of Melbourne and Cancer Coucil Victoria found 8% of students reported consuming energy drinks on a weekly basis considering them 'regular users'.
The study concluded, "regular consumption is more prevalent among males, and consumption appears to cluster with other unhealthy dietary behaviours and short sleep duration."
In a world-first, the small town of Bridgetown in Western Australia is currently trialing a ban on under-18s purchasing energy drinks in a research trial.
The study i?s aimed at improving youth behavior and focusing on mental health, and will run for four months.
A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education told 9Honey Parenting, "Sugar-sweetened drinks and energy drinks are banned in school canteens and vending machines on school grounds. Energy drinks are not recommended for children. Water is actively promoted as the drink of choice at all NSW public schools."
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