Call for national action to regulate energy drinks

RESEARCHERS are calling for all energy drinks to carry warning labels after finding a big increase in caffeine toxicity among consumers of the drinks.
The researchers from the University of Sydney and the NSW Poisons Information Centre say reports of adverse reactions to energy drinks increased from just 12 in 2004 to 65 in 2010.

The median age of people who were reported to the centre, which handles calls from NSW, the ACT and Tasmania, was just 17.

Some 57 per cent of people who were reported were male.

The symptoms which were most commonly reported were heart palpitations, agitation, tremors and gastrointestinal upset.