They sold about 3 cans in 5 years and took it off the market.

You can already buy sugar-free versions of most popular soft-drinks. (Pepsi Max, Coke Zero, etc).

The same luddites got stuck into Coke for “Coke Zero” because they marketed it virally. Tools.

What’s sleazier, the cola companies wanting to prevent interference with their product after what happened in the 80’s Coke debacle or the sleazy lying the Australian green party throws around about GM food and nuke energy?

To your credit I have seen you dispair over the gm issue and the anti-science view your cult displays although I don’t know your view on nuke power as yet.

But how can you live with yourself adoring that sleazy bob brown while he lies about something as environmentally important as GM food that would actually reduce acreage use etc and help with increasing wilderness areas?

As to the other issues about the effects of caffeine. We need to know the degree of harm and the quantity of caffiene consumed needed to induce all those effects. Of course side effects are an issue for almost all types of food, drink and medicine. So giving this litany of side effect complaints is meaningless.

It’s no good , ted, telling us all the side effects unless we have the facts. How much cola does a trial group have to drink before some of those side effects enter the picture.

Obviously when it comes to your consumption I would lay off the six cups as its having an abovious effect on you.

According to John Hopkins caffeine withdrawal symptoms include:

“# Headache – (often described as being gradual in development and diffuse, and sometimes throbbing and severe)

# Fatigue — (e.g., fatigue, tiredness, lethargy, sluggishness)

# Sleepiness/drowsiness — (e.g., sleepy, drowsy, yawning)

# Difficulty concentrating — (e.g., muzzy)

# Work difficulty — (e.g., decreased motivation for tasks/work)

# Irritability — (e.g., irritable, cross, miserable, decreased well-being/contentedness)

# Depression — (e.g., depressed mood)

# Anxiety — (e.g., anxious, nervous)

# Flu-like symptoms — (e.g., nausea/vomiting, muscle aches/stiffness, hot and cold spells, heavy feelings in arms or legs)

# Impairment in psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances” http://www.caffeinedependence.org/

Caffeine intoxication also gets a DSM-IV listing.

Obviously the companies know what their products tatste like sans caffeine otherwise they wouldn’t be making claims about its taste. Either that or they are lying about this too.

Sure, it isn’t the biggest issue in the world but still it is an example of corporate sleaze.

I only mentioned ‘cos Jason mentioned coke and pepsi.

As for being deceptive perhaps they are or pehaps they believe it. Unless I think its dangerous I’m not sure I care.

Ted, no one is missing the point.

I explained why you are a luddite. i also explained that changing ingredients is not as easy as you think despite reliance on a third rate education sewer to suggest that taste won’t change.

Steve Edney explained to you that a more qulaified centre has said that kids aren’t affected.

You on the other hand offer no evidence that kids are adversely affected by the caffeine. As usual the only thing you go by is suspect studies that conform you prejudices.

No one is missing any point, Ted. Your argument has been demolished before your very eyes yet you can’t even see it.

Stay away from the things that make you happy in life, ted , otherwise the Green cult is going to get angry.

By the way if the cult head tells you there’s a spaceship waiitng if you take a pill and go to sleep i strongly suggest you take it as you don’t want to keep the others waiting.

My points are:

# the ethics of giving kiddies an addictive substance irrespective of its health consequences, and
# the dishonesty on the part of the cola companies in saying that caffeine is a flavour enhancer in cola when it isn’t.

JC, as per usual you make no sense. I’ve never commented on your plane travel. And I think the more cigars you smoke the better, for obvious reasons.

And you haven’t heard of Deakin and you live in Melbourne?! You really are dumber than a hamster.