Tennessee Elementary School Bans Energy Drinks for Students
Westside Elementary School in Tennessee has taken a firm step to safeguard students’ well-being by banning energy drinks on campus.
In a letter to parents, the school made it clear that while families ultimately decide what children consume at home, no student will be allowed to bring energy drinks to school. Any that are brought in will be discarded.
The letter, signed by Principal Angela Craighead and issued through the Macon County Schools health director, included images of popular brands such as Monster, Alani, and Celsius to help parents identify them.
Principal Craighead emphasized her stance, saying, “Our kids’ health is something I will protect, and energy drinks are simply not safe for little kids. It’s a boundary I refuse to cross.”
Health experts agree. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that energy drinks often contain excessive caffeine, sugar, and additional stimulants like guarana and taurine, which can overstimulate the nervous system and raise blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rates.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises that children under 12 should not consume caffeine at all, and those between 12 and 18 should limit intake to no more than 100mg daily.
This decision reinforces the importance of safeguarding children’s right to health. Schools, as places of learning and growth, must protect that right by ensuring students are safe from harmful products.
