Debate: Could pop be making teens more violent?

We know the health risks of regularly drinking soft drinks (cavities, weight gain), but here’s another reason you may want to stay away from the popular drink: A new study has concluded that teens who consume five or more cans of pop a week are more likely to be violent.

For the study, each teen was asked how many cans of soda he or she had consumed in the previous week, as well as whether or not they drank alcohol or smoked, carried a weapon or acted violently. David Hemenway, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and co-author of the study says teens who drank soft drinks were nine to 15 percent more likely to be violent.

While I agree that soda is by no means a healthy way to quench your thirst, I’m skeptical about whether it promotes violence in teens. Those who were surveyed for the study were from a select area, and other factors such as family life and economic status may not have been taken into account. The study looked at 1,878 teens from Boston, many of whom represented ethnic minorities from low-income neighbourhoods, reports the Huffington Post. As a result, many of these teens may not have access to the healthiest foods, making junk food and soft drinks the more accessible options. And according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poverty is a major risk factor for youth violence.

What do you think? Could the sugar and/or caffeine in soft drinks be making teens more violent?

Related:
‘ News: Should pop contain caffeine?
‘ 4 sugary foods you should be avoiding
‘ 4 foods that are bad for your teeth