Students treated at after-ball after downing energy drinks

Photo / Herald on Sunday

Students at the St Kentigern College after-ball party were treated by paramedics after becoming ill from drinking large quantities of Red Bull.

Pupils who attended the alcohol-free party at a warehouse in Takanini last month said they were allowed to help themselves to as many cans of the powerful energy drink as they liked.

Two boys were treated in an ambulance for dizziness and vomiting after drinking up to five cans of Red Bull.

Organiser Andrew Spence said the cans of drink had been bought by the organisers for the students after it was decided that they would ban alcohol from the event.

Spence said an ambulance, complete with three paramedics, was arranged as a precaution in case any students needed medical help.

The two boys who fell ill were picked up from the venue by their parents.

Spence said the student's bags were also searched for alcohol.

A 50ml bottle of roll-on deodorant that had been tampered with so it could hold vodka was confiscated.

"From our point of view we put in whatever procedures we thought were necessary," said Spence.

One 16-year-old who attended the ball said the venue contained several fridges full of Red Bull and students could help themselves.

"Quite a few drunk a lot of Red Bull," he said.

School principal Steve Cole said he knew nothing about the illnesses, and was told the after-ball had run smoothly.

Last year Auckland mum Brooke Robertson made headlines around the world after revealing to the Herald on Sunday that she lost 45kg in eight months by drinking 10 to 14 cans of Red Bull a day.

But she ended up in hospital after a minor heart attack and now has ongoing health problems.

The drink has recently been banned in Turkey and Norway, and a 12-year ban on the drink in France was lifted in 2008.

Red Bull failed to return calls.

Red Bull can:

* Cause an increase to the "stickiness" of the blood and a raised risk of blood clots forming.

* Increase the risk of heart damage.

* Boost heart rates and blood pressure levels.

- Source: University of Adelaide