School district bans energy drinks

Irma Lemus

BURBANK -- Calling ingredients found in the popular energy drink Red

Bull potentially life threatening, the Burbank Unified School District

has banned Red Bull and other energy drinks and tablets.

School officials said two John Burroughs High School football players

fainted during practice after drinking Red Bull.

Red Bull officials say the charge is ridiculous and has no basis.

Neither student had eaten before taking the energy drink, school

officials said. The students were examined by coaches and staff. They

determined Red Bull was the cause.

The students exhibited signs of nausea, faintness and rapid heartbeat

and were incoherent, said Jay Gudzin, Burroughs assistant principal of

athletics and activities.

In an Oct. 17 memo, Gudzin warns school staff about the energy drinks.

Red Bull and Speed Stack are the only drinks identified, but all energy

drinks and tablets are banned.

Energy drinks are dangerous because they contain high levels of

caffeine and ephedrine, an herbal drug found in diet supplements that may

have life-threatening side effects, Gudzin said. Red Bull does not

contain ephedrine, but Speed Stack does.

“It’s just not safe for students,” Gudzin said.

“We are simply following the warning labels on the drinks and not

allowing children to drink them,” he said.

COMPANY DEFENDS ITS PRODUCT

Emmy Cortes, corporate communications manager for Red Bull, called the

Burbank ban outrageous.

“Red Bull is absolutely safe,” Cortes said.

Red Bull has been scientifically proven to be safe for children and

even diabetics, Cortes said.

Cortes questioned whether the district thoroughly researched the

incident.

“The school didn’t even take into consideration if the students had

eaten or had enough water,” she said. “We’ve never claimed to be a

substitute for water. We are an energy drink.”

She said the drink’s major components are taurine, a natural amino

acid, and glucuronolactone, a substance that removes toxins from the

body. Both are safe, she said.

The drink contains 80 mg of caffeine, the same as a one cup of coffee.

The Burbank district is the first known school district to ban energy

drinks. Other substances banned from schools are alcohol, illegal drugs

and tobacco. That would make energy drinks the only banned substance that

minors are legally allowed to use.

STAFF SAYS DRINKS UNSAFE FOR STUDENTS

For Marty Garrison, Burroughs athletics director, the energy drinks

are as life-threatening as illegal substances.

Garrison, who coaches the two players who fainted, said the energy

drinks should not be sold to those underage.

“My players are scared to death of them,” he said. “It used to be

common for them to drink Red Bull, but now they won’t touch the stuff,”

Derek Walker, 17, a Burroughs baseball player, said the ban will not

affect him.

“I’ve always stayed away from energy drinks because I heard they have

too much caffeine,” he said.

Burbank Schools Superintendent David Aponik said energy drinks found

on school campuses will be confiscated. Students caught with the drinks

will not be penalized, but their parents will have to pick up the energy

drink.

“We are looking out for the health and safety of our children,” Aponik

said.