Explosive Hits – Hard Facts about Energy Drinks
June 1, 2010 at 3:00 am | Posted in Security | 4 CommentsTags: alcohol, asthma, caffeine, drinking, energy drink, event, gurana, party, prevention, safe parties, security, taurine, teen, teenage, teenager, U-NOME Security, venue, violence, youth
Everyone loses when this party goes off.
Frightening Trend
If you have kids or run a venue, there are things you must know about energy drinks.
When teens drink large quantities of energy drinks at a party, they become extremely violent in the aftermath.
I’ve seen them smash property and assault people as a result of overdosing on this freely available ‘refreshment’.
I’ve also seen asthmatics become distressed after consuming these drinks.
If your child has any sort of medical condition, you must take great care.
Junk within Junk
These drinks contain large doses of ingredients which generally aren’t regulated, including:
- Caffeine (30-150 mg per 250 ml, depending on brand).
- Guarana (a caffeine extract from a South American plant).
- Sugar (in higher quantities than sports drinks!).
- The amino acid taurine.
The high caffeine content of energy drinks relative to other foods and beverages containing caffeine is a real worry.
Some energy drinks contain more than twice the caffeine of colas!
More Facts
Kids consume energy drinks as if they’re soft drinks or water. Studies have found they find energy drink labels confusing. And with good cause:
- Energy drink makers design their labels to target teens.
- The recommended ‘daily dose’ of 2-5 cans is for adults.
Health professionals are concerned at the amount of caffeine teenagers are getting from energy drinks and other sources.
Side-effects include nausea, sleep disruption, blood pressure changes and cardiovascular complications.
Growing bodies are particularly at risk.
And when you learn that kids are mixing energy drinks with caffeine pills and alcohol, we have a truly lethal cocktail.
Local Dealers
Energy drink consumption is growing rapidly in Australia.
I’m staggered that energy drinks are sold next to lollies and chocolate at milk bar and convenience store counters.
From what I’ve witnessed, these drinks should be available only in liquor stores – if at all.
The situation is so serious, I’ve banned these drinks at any event my team attends.
I value their safety too highly.
Naomi Oakley, Managing Director, U-NOME Security Communication Specialists.
Death of the Party
February 5, 2010 at 5:36 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 CommentTags: bottle, crowd control, death, energy drink, fantasy, gamma hydroxybutyrate, GHB, grievous bodily harm, kid, loss, marijuana, Naomi Oakley, nightmare, parent, party, Party Plan Checklist, prevention, safe parties, teenager, tragedy
GHB = Final Fantasy. Photo by Cynergist.
Another Tragedy
This week I read with utter dismay that yet another teenager had lost her life at a party which didn’t have adequate security measures.
Two men also became violently ill on what’s thought to be gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).
This so-called ‘recreational’ drug has an appropriate nickname of Grievous Bodily Harm.
Escalating Problem
Recreational drugs used to be the domain of people aged 20 and over. Today’s users are getting younger and younger.
Parents must be aware and vigilant. As long as we ignore this problem, teenagers will continue to harm and destroy themselves.
Parties need proper security. Parents and professional crowd controllers can prevent tragedies like this.
Experience
As a former police member and professional crowd controller, I worked many private parties.
I encountered pills, marijuana, liquid drugs and energy drinks (which are far more dangerous than they sound).
With responsible adults supervising an event and observing guests, trouble can be stopped before it starts.
Using clear plastic containers makes it easy to identify alcohol.
Preventing young guests from helping themselves to (what appears to be) alcohol is also vital.
Back packs, sports bags and other large bags often carry large amounts of alcohol to parties. Drugs can be concealed in small cavities.
Solutions
Based on my public and private sector experience, I created a Party Plan Checklist.
Experience has since shown that using this list effectively deters drug use at parties.
I’ve also tabled a legal framework to control private parties.
I firmly believe all these measures are needed to protect young people from today’s deadly dangers.
Naomi Oakley, Managing Director, U-NOME Security Communication Specialists.
Naomi Oakley
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