LEISURE bosses in Lanarkshire are considering a ban on the sale of energy drinks in its sports centres.

 

It follows a decision by Glasgow Life in January to remove all drinks from vending machines at its sport facilities.

They were responding to a campaign which calls on stores to voluntarily stop selling drinks such as Red Bull and Monster.

Both North and South Lanarkshire Leisure said they were looking into a possible ban, following concerns the drinks are damaging childrens' health and affecting their behaviour.

The Responsible Retailing of Energy Drinks (RRED) campaign, was launched by Edinburgh councillor Norma Austin-Hart.

Ms Hart said a store in Paisley was considering signing up to the voluntary code, which has already been backed by a number of stores in Edinburgh.

She said: "The RRED leisure trusts listed below have all decided not to sell them at all. RRED is not campaigning for a complete ban on energy drinks.

"We know that adults like them but in the absence of legislation we are asking responsible retailers to adopt a caring attitude towards their younger customers by restricting sale to over 16s."

It comes after a teenager told how she almost died as a result of drinking 10 Jagerbombs, which contain Red Bull.

Jayde Dinsdale, 19, from Somerset, is now campaigning against energy drinks as a result of her near miss when she had three heart attacks.

Labels on energy drinks warn they have a high caffeine content and are not recommended for children.

The British Soft Drinks Association also has a code of practice that says high-caffeine soft drinks should not be promoted or marketed to those under 16.

But teachers and parents have raised concerns that pupils are drinking as many as four cans a day of the drinks, which can contain anything from 80 milligrams of caffeine - the same as a mug of coffee - to as much as 400mg per can.

Valerie Kemp, South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture's Sport and Physical Activity Manager said: "We are currently looking into the Responsible Retailing of the Energy Drinks Campaign and will give this our consideration."

Edinburgh Leisure has also banned energy drinks from 30 council-owned venues, ranging from the Commonwealth Pool to golf clubs.