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Comment by boredhedgehog | Hacker News Reader

And if there is, wouldn't it be more important to restrict coffee and tea?

Coffee is approximately the same as an energy drink (very approximately), but how many kids can down a pint or three of bitter coffee? The flavor is enough to keep it relatively self regulating.

It's also not marketed in a way that appeals to children and teenagers.

> [Coffee is] not marketed in a way that appeals to children and teenagers.

Thanks to AI, it could be: https://g.co/gemini/share/3e1cb15c52aa

Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts (I'm assuming there's some UK equivalent) sell what's effectively coffee milkshakes.

They have much lower caffeine. About half an energy drink. And they are way more expensive. No kids out there drinking six grande frappucinos during their school day. That's like $40, lol.

> The flavor is enough to keep it relatively self regulating

Not if you make it properly - correct water temperature of less than 100° (maybe as low as 70° for AeroPress), freshly ground beans and beans roasted less than 4 weeks ago or so. Also, drip coffee machines are terrible as they over-extract the coffee in the middle and under-extract the coffee round the outside. And a good grinder is essential to avoid too much dust and boulders that lead to over/under extraction.

Great coffee is still not as appealing to children as monster energy. I guarantee.

Poland issued similar ban with 16mg/100ml as limit - matching coffee and Cola/Pepsi. Most energy drinks on market were at 32mg/100ml level, with few uncommon ones at 40mg/100ml.

if the UK had a written constitution, the right to drink tea would be damn near the top of it.

Us Brits were dispensed tea at our mothers nipple.

Though one should point out that energy drinks have silly amounts of sugar and more caffeine than a typical mug of tea does.

Also tea is drunk over a longer time period, whilst energy drinks tend to be chugged.

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