The Country Womens Association is calling for an age limit to be set on the sale of energy drinks.

More than 13,000 people have signed a petition calling for an over-18 restriction on the drinks due to the high levels of caffeine, taurine, guarana and ginseng.

The Association is concerned about the long term effects of of the substances on children.

The petition was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by the Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton.

“Younger children are consuming large amounts on these energy drinks and not only is it having an effect on their behaviour in the short term, it will have a long term effect on their general well being,” he said.

“So they’re asking that these drinks not be sold to children under the ages of 18.”

“When these drinks get mixed with alcohol the consequences are even magnified from that so I think the CWA are an organisation with its finger on the pulse and they obviously think this is an important issue for so many of them to sign up.”