A PRIMARY school head has backed calls for a ban on the sale of high-sugar, high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s.

Health campaign group Action on Sugar has warned that children are being “duped” into thinking such drinks boost sporting or academic performance.

Research by the group found that some products contained up to 20 teaspoons of sugar.

Almost 200 branded and nonbranded drinks were analysed with Sainsbury’s Orange Energy Drink and Rockstar Punched Energy proving to be the worst offenders with almost 16g of sugar per 100ml.

Neroche Primary School head teacher Connel Boyle said: “The new energy drinks surge is most worrying due to the high caffeine and sugar content.

“The promotion of these drinks links quite firmly with physical activity, and children interested in sport are most as risk from trying them.

“I support banning their sale to under-16s as we’re unsure what the future health effects will be on the children we’re serving now.

“Parents and children are unaware in most cases of the high levels of caffeine in most drinks.

“You wouldn’t give a ten-yearold three shots of espresso coffee would you?

“We do teach our children about the high amount of sugar in fizzy drinks.

“We try to teach the healthy message that everything in moderation is OK rather than a blanket ‘not to try things’ message.

“In a different life I used to coach youth rugby, and parents thought that by loading their children up on energy drinks this would help them.

“The club and I actively discouraged their use long before this ban was mooted.”

Last week, Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of Action on Sugar and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London, told The Guardian newspaper: “Children are being deceived into drinking large cans of this stuff thinking they’re going to improve their performance at school, during sports or even on a night out.

“In reality all they’re doing is increasing their risk of developing obesity or type 2 diabetes, which will have lifelong implications for their health.

“Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, limb amputation and kidney dialysis – hardly the image of a healthy, active person.”