NewsNet5.com - News - Teen Will Not Face Charges For Handing Out Mints At School

NewsNet5.com - News - Teen Will Not Face Charges For Handing Out Mints At School:
"MASSILLON, Ohio -- Police won't charge a 13-year-old boy who was suspended for 10 days after he brought caffeine-laced mints to school and his classmates got sick."

The boy, who was reported to have taken the tin of mints from his mother's handbag without permission, did receive a 10-day suspension from school. That seems about right.

The puzzle here is that 39 mints shared among 9 students who went to hospital works out to an average caffeine dose of 10.75 mg which is substantially less than the caffeine in a half a can of cola. Maybe this boy's school friends are all particularly sensitive to caffeine, or maybe it was the taurine which is also found in energy mints. Or, just maybe some of the "racing heartbeat" and other signs presented at the hospital were caused by the over-reaction of the grown-ups.

I suppose this shows the need for another federal health study. We'll pluck some 13-year olds out of class, tell them they have been poisoned with a dangerous drug and rush them to the hospital. What percentage do you think would have racing heartbeats or other signs of stress? For a half million dollars, I'm sure the government could find out for us.