Kick (energy drink)

Kick is a high energy drink produced for the supermarket chain Tesco in the UK. It is similar in taste and composition to Red Bull. A standard bottle of Kick Stimulation Drink contains 5 servings (of which a serving is a standard 200ml portion of the bottle).

Kick Stimulation Drink contains a high caffeine content of 30mg/100ml. Therefore, it is not suitable for diabetics, children or people sensitive and/or allergic to caffeine. Kick Stimulation Drink is suitable for vegetarians.''

Red Bull, a similar high energy drink, contains 32mg/100ml. Therefore Red Bull contains 6.6666...% more caffeine than Kick.

Kick now also comes in Cranberry flavour, and also a Diet Kick version.

Ingredients

Carbonated Water, Sugar, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Citric Acid, Taurine (0.4%), D-Glucuronolactone (0.24%), Acidity Regulator (Trisodium Citrate or E331), Flavourings, Colours (Sulphite Ammonia Caramel, Riboflavin), Flavouring (Caffeine), Inositol, Preservative (Sodium Benzoate or E211), Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12.

Nutritional information

A 250ml (7fl oz) serving

Energy: 518kJ or 123kcal

Protein: 0g

Carbohydrates: 29.0g of which sugars: 29.0g

Fat: trace of which saturates: trace

Fibre: trace

Sodium: trace

A serving (250ml) contains the equivalent of approx. trace of salt

Vitamins and minerals

Riboflavin B2: 1.4mg or 88% RDA

Niacin: 20.0mg or 111% RDA

Vitamin B6: 5.0mg or 250% RDA

Vitamin B12: 5.0μg 500% RDA

Pantothenic Acid: 5.0mg 83% RDA

RDA = Recommended Daily Allowance

Controversy

On the 16th of April 2007, BBC Northern Ireland's current affairs programme, Newsline reported that the head of Newtownbreda High School in Belfast wants its local Tesco store to stop selling the drink. The headmaster reported that some pupils where drinking 1 litre bottles of the drink in the morning before school, resulting is mis-behaviour in the classroom. The school has gone so far as to ban children from bringing the drink onto its campus.

Tesco refuted the school's claims saying "...a normal serving contains no more [caffeine] than a cup of coffee. There is currently no legislation which would allow us or any other retailer to ban the sale of this or any other energy drink to children."

References

• Nutritional Information taken from Kick Stimulation Drink bottles.
• Red Bull caffeine content taken from Red Bull 250ml Can.