Children who habitually consume large amounts of caffeinated soft drinks may suffer withdrawal symptoms if deprived of them. Symptoms may include slowed reaction times and reduced attention span. The researchers suggest that the best way to avoid this is not to allow children to have caffeinated beverages.
It is felt that 98 percent of American children consume caffeine at least once a week. (Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 37:858-865, 1998)
Copyright 1998 Phylis A Austin
