Teenage java drinkers raise health concerns

She says it an addiction– she’s had since she was 12.

"I like coffee and I continue to drink it- even at night cause it doesn’t keep me up," says Julie Laube.

She’s in grade nine and Laube drinks as many as three cups of coffee a day. Many of her classmates are doing the same.

"If I have more than 5 bucks- I’d usually have three cups a day," says one student.

"I guess I started drinking it more frequently in grade seven maybe," says Melissa McLaughlin who at 17 is switching to decaf.

They say they drink it when they can, cause it’s available.

Tempting coffee treats are only a quick walk or a stones throw from most city schools.

But the young, new coffee clientele is troubling for those who understand the effects of caffeine.

“High amounts of caffeine can impact on normal growth and development so they can actually delay growth so kids do need to be careful," explains Gina Sunderland, Registered Dietician for Action Physiotherapy & Wellness Clinic.

To get a better idea of how much caffeine your child may be drinking, here’s how it breaks down per cup:

Black Tea = 46mg

Cola Drinks = 35mg

Coffee = 110-180mg

Starbucks Coffee = 200mg ( including icy & sweet coffee drinks)

Health Canada recommends adults not go over 450 milligrams a day- but caffeine guidelines for children haven’t been developed.

"Kids become hyper, they have trouble concentrating they can have headaches… So there’s a lot of negative effects from having caffeine."

Even Julie Laube admits the coffee she drinks is making her tired and she’s planning on switching to bottled water.