CURLING star Eve Muirhead has backed calls for a ban on the sale of high energy drinks to pupils.
“They’re full of rubbish and terrible for you. It’s just a cheap way to buzz you up,” she said.
“If we’re really serious about wanting to change the lifestyle of kids then these are the drastic actions that need to be taken.”
Last year, teaching unions called for energy drinks to be be banned from schools with the high caffeine levels blamed for poor behaviour.
Chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver also called for legislation after supermarkets introduced their own age limits on the high caffeine and sugar products.
Read more: Jamie Oliver demands ban on high energy drinks
A typical energy drink contains 32mg of caffeine per 100ml and cans carry warnings saying they are “not recommended for children”.
A single 500ml can contains 160mg of caffeine, equivalent to around two shots of espresso coffee. The drinks can also be high in sugar.
However, the British Soft Drinks Association says the drinks have been deemed safe.
In an interview with the Times Educational Supplement Scotland Muirhead admitted her own eating habits had not been good as a child.
She said: “When I was at school some of the options were terrible. I remember having a cheeseburger at my first break and then going out to the van and getting ... two chocolate doughnuts and a packet of crisps.”
She also admits to skipping PE lessons by pretending she had forgotten her kit because it “wasn’t cool”.
However, she now preaches a different approach - and has even suggested single sex PE lessons to get more involvement from girls.
Read more: Judy Murray calls for single sex PE lessons
She said: “Your body is a bit like a car. You have to fuel it to get it to work. I think during exams many kids probably skip breakfast, but might grab a bag of crisps on the way to the bus.
“Having a hearty breakfast fuels you through the day. You’re going to be more alert, more concentrated and more brain-ready.”
Why not do girls’ PE and boys’ PE? It’s not how you take part, it’s taking part that counts.
“Even now girls’ physical activity levels are worryingly low. Sport to girls isn’t cool - getting sweaty, your make-up coming off and wearing shorts.
“PE and home economics also link very closely together and that would definitely benefit kids if there were more teachers able to do that.”
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