Wednesday, February 13, 2008

apparently teens aren't getting enough caffeine...

Stimulus Plan for Candy: Pack It Full of Caffeine

The new products are appearing as the candy industry is losing part of its most bankable audience -- kids. There were 3.3% fewer kids age 6 to 11 in 2007 as in 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Sales of sugar confectionary dropped by 4% from 2001 to 2006, while energy-drink sales rose by more than 400% to $3.23 billion in the period, according to market researcher Mintel.

Ok...to risk sounding like I am a million years old, when did caffeine become so socially acceptable for youth? When I was a kid my folks only let me have soda at parties, and then only one of the little half cans you can rarely even find any more. (Ok, disclaimer, my folks were hippies!) It is hard not to see links to growth in hyperactivity in kids, and also rising anxiety, too. Why isn't there any regulations against this? Or do some people actually consider this healthy?

What do your teens think?

2 comments:

. said...

The kids at Stanwood are always asking for Mountain Dew. One Dew-marinated Wednesday was more than enough to institute the no-caffeinated-beverages policy we're currently working worth!

This is definitely something I think all teen contacts should be aware of - the caffeine factor. When you're working with large groups of teenagers, providing unregulated access to caffeine can be like pouring jet fuel on a 40-story pile of burning tires...SHIELDS UP, RED ALERT!

Laura said...

While I steer clear of providing Mountain Dew or Energy Drinks at teen programs, we usually have Coke and/or Dr. Pepper on hand. In fact, one teen explained to me last Monday, as she helped herself to a glass of Coke, that she was ADHD and caffeine actually helped calm her down. Judging by the energy in the meeting room at that time, I have a hard time believing this is the case for most teens!