Can kids drink Prime? All your questions answered about the viral drink

There's two very different versions of the viral Prime drink – and parents are urged to understand the difference for children

If you've got children or teens, you've probably heard a lot about the viral Prime drinks taking the UK by storm.

But if your children are nagging you to buy them, you might be wondering whether they're actually suitable for them to drink – that's if you can get hold of them.

We've answered some of your most pressing questions about the popular drink below, including whether Prime drink is OK for kids, what's in them ...

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What is Prime drink?

There are two kinds of Prime drink: Prime Hydration and Prime Energy.

Prime drink was introduced to the market in early 2022 by Logan Paul and KSI, and Congo Brands, the supplier and distributor. The drink is available in the UK and the US.

KSI is a popular English YouTubers, rapper and boxer. Logan Paul is an American social media star and wrestler.

The drinks come in a variety of different flavours, including:

• Meta Moon
• Ice Pop
• Blue Raspberry
• Tropical Punch
• Lemon Lime
• Orange Grape

A new flavour of Prime has also just been released. More details here.

See how many Prime flavours there are and what they are.

According to the supplier the drink contains:

• 10% coconut water
• 2g sugar
• 25 calories
• 250mg BCAAs (for muscle enhancement)
• 830mg of electrolytes
• vitamins and antioxidants

Prime Energy has been spotted in the Arsenal dugout

Is Prime an energy drink?

Prime actually refers to the line of drinks – both versions, mentioned above. Only one qualifies as an energy drink. The legal definition of an energy drink in the UK is one that contains 150mg of caffeine per litre or more.

Why is Prime drink so popular?

Prime drinks were created by YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul. The YouTubers have a relatively young fan base, and many youngsters have been desperate to get their hands on the product.

The drink went viral after capitalising on the huge influence of the two online personalities. the creators say their mission was, 'to showcase what happens when rivals come together as brothers and business partners to fill the void where great taste meets function,.'

The drinks initially went on sale in the US back in early 2022. The UK didn't receive its first batch of the viral drinks until December last year but sold out almost as soon as they hit shops.

According to The Independent, 'Prime Hydration was made available as an Aldi “Special Buy” on Thursday 29 December but the chain’s Crawley store, for one, had entirely run out just 30 minutes after opening as shoppers queued round the block to get their hands on crates.'

They say, 'Runs on the product were also reported at Aldi branches in Gravesend in Kent and in Thornbury near Bradford, among other locations.'

While the drinks were exclusively sold in ASDA at first, other outlets, including Aldi and Sainsbury's, have now also started selling them.

Why is Prime Energy drink so popular?

Prime Energy contains caffeine and sugar, and is carbonated. Consumers are promised increased energy, performance and concentration by the suppliers.

The hydration version of Prime is not an energy drink as it does not contain caffeine nor does it contain sugar. Instead, it is sweetened with aspartame, and it is a still drink.

So, why is Prime drink so expensive?

This is probably one of the questions a lot of parents ask. The simple answer is: supply and demand. Prime became a viral sensation and as a result retailers find it hard to keep it in stock. Corner shops often mark up the price to sky-high levels because, well, they can and people will still pay.

A young boy holds bottles of Prime Hydration

Is Prime safe for children to drink?

To answer that question we have to consider the 2 versions of Prime separately, primarily because of the differences between energy drinks and sports drinks. Energy drinks are specifically designed to help athletes and other active people hydrate before, during and after exercise. Their ingredients make them a LOT different from sports drinks.

Is Prime Hydration safe for kids?

The Prime Hydration drink is child-friendly and is classed as a sports drink, like Powerade or Gatorade. Sports drinks are designed to help with exercise and recovery. They are suitable for under 16s to consume.

This version of Prime is marketed as a ‘hydration drink’ and contains mostly water and coconut water with added vitamins and minerals. Its flavours include ice pop, blue raspberry, grape and lemon lime.

Prime Hydration is NOT an energy drink as it does not contain caffeine. It's low calorie with no added sugar.

Is Prime Energy safe for kids?

On the other hand, the fizzy Prime Energy contains caffeine and SHOULD NOT be consumed by children under the age of 18 as well as some other people. This is stated on the Prime website:

'PRIME Energy contains 140mg of caffeine, per 12 oz. can. PRIME Energy is not recommended for children under the age of 16, women who are pregnant or nursing or individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.'

A doctor has issued a warning to parents about children about the drink's high caffeine content, and a child reportedly had to get their stomach pumped after a cardiac event after drinking it.

The energy version of Prime isn't officially sold in major supermarkets in the UK yet, but smaller corner shops like the famous Wakey Wines in Wakefield have been selling them for £100 per can. Since April they have been set to become more widely available in the UK.

What a doctor says about Prime Energy

Prime Energy contains a whopping 200mg of caffeine, compared to 86.4mg in a can of Monster Energy. The European Food Safety Authority recommends a daily caffeine intake of up to 3mg per kilogram of weight for children ages 3 to 18. The daily safety recommendation for adults is 400mg.

The EFSA opinion confirms the safety of daily caffeine intakes of up to 3mg per kg of body weight for children and adolescents (3-18 years) and up to 400mg for adults. All energy drink labels disclose the exact caffeine content in the product.

Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Mirror: 'I would not recommend children drink Prime Energy drinks or other energy drinks for children of any age.

'Children don't need energy drinks anyway – they have plenty of energy! If your child is lacking in energy, take them to see their GP, do not give them an energy drink.

'It encourages them to want sweet drinks, when plain water is the answer and helps them develop a sweet tooth which is not good for the future in terms of a healthy diet and controlling their weight.'

• What a nutritionist says about Prime Energy drinks for children

At what age can you drink Prime?

Drink creator KSI took to Twitter a few months ago to confirm you do not need to be 16 or over to buy it. The UK government is currently consulting on banning the sale of energy drinks to children, but it is still in the process of analysing the results from a public consultation.

Can children drink Prime drinks?

Not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women. The label must also include the caffeine content of the product in mg per 100ml.

Is Prime drink fizzy?

It depends on which one you choose. Prime Hydration is a still drink, with no bubbles. Prime Energy, however, is a carbonated drink.

Last updated: 15 May 2023

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