A HEADTEACHER has banned high-sugar energy drinks in lessons due to fears they have a “detrimental effect” on pupils.

Woodlands School, in Woodlands Approach, Basildon, has written to parents warning the drinks will be confiscated if spotted in classrooms.

But headteacher Simon Cox has stopped short of banning the drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster and Lucozade Sport, from school premises completely.

Mr Cox said: “It is a pre-emptive thing as we know the detriment of the sugar in these drinks, which are primarily for sports use.

“We have said pupils and parents should think about this, because there are 14g of sugar in 100ml of these drinks.

“They are not banned completely, and if people want to, they can drink them at lunch-time. We are just saying we don’t think they should.”

In his letter to parents, Mr Cox wrote: “Recently some pupils have brought caffeinated energy drinks into school.

“We believe they possibly have a detrimental effect on pupils and could potentially lead to health problems.”

The letter pointed to research which states consumption of too many energy drinks can cause dehydration, avid erosion of teeth and type two diabetes.

The headteacher added in his letter: “We will not allow pupils to drink these types of drinks in lessons and they will be confiscated.

“We will however allow pupils to bring in bottles of water which can be consumed in lessons.

“We know you will understand this approach and see that we have your child’s best interests at heart.“ Other south Essex schools have adopted similar policies on drinks in lessons.

Southend High School for Boys, for instance, only allows pupils to drink water in the classroom.

But Fitzwimarc School, in Hockley Road, Rayleigh, told the Echo it did not impose a ban on which drinks pupils brought into school.

'Lifelong implications on health'

CAMPAIGNERS have called on a blanket ban on selling energy drinks to children.

Research by the campaign group Action on Sugar found eight in ten energy drinks sold in supermarkets would be given a “red” label for high sugar levels.

Graham MacGregor, a professor of medicine and chairman of Action on Sugar, said: “Children are being deceived into drinking large cans of this stuff thinking they are going to improve their performance at school, during sports or even on a night out.

“In reality all they are doing is increasing their risk of developing obesity or type two diabetes, which will have lifelong implications on their health.”

The British Soft Drinks Association states it does not target children aged 16 or under in its promotions or adverts.

Last year, Haydock High School, in Merseyside, claimed the number of detentions given out to pupils reduced by a third after it banned energy drinks.

Government adviser John Vincent, co-founder of the Leon chain of restaurants, backed calls for the drinks to be banned from schools, claiming it was a cause of behavioural problems in youngsters.