A petition calling for a ban on the sale of energy drinks to kids has been backed by Australia's largest women's organisation and doctors.
The Country Women's Association NSW and the Australian Medical Association have thrown their support behind a petition asking the government to ban energy drinks to those under 18 because of their harmful effects.
High amounts of caffeine in most energy drinks have been shown to cause insomnia, headaches, rapid heart rates, nervousness, hypertension, anxiety and diarrhoea, the CWA said.
"Who knows what damage, over time, this causes a developing body and mind," CWA NSW president Tanya Cameron said in a statement on Thursday.
"We protect our children from alcohol and tobacco and believe that energy drinks should also be included on this list."
More than 13,000 members of the CWA have signed the petition, which was presented to federal parliament by Nationals MP Mark Coulton on Thursday.
The AMA was concerned over the alarming increase in the number of adolescents suffering caffeine toxicity from energy drinks.
"The dangers of over-consumption are significant and I think many parents and teenagers are unaware of the risks," AMA president Steve Hambleton said.
Australian Beverages Council chief executive Geoff Parker said the call to ban energy drinks was misguided.
"By law energy drinks are clearly labelled that they are not suitable for children and no more than two per day should be consumed by adults," he said.
