Should there be an age requirement for purchasing sports supplementation?

If not, who should be responsible for monitoring sports supplementation usage? Teenagers (particularly, teenage boys) are using more and more sports supplementation in the form of protein powders, energy drinks, and other substances (some legal, some not so legal) to get bigger, stronger, and faster -- for sports and otherwise. While this is hardly a new phenomenon, it seems to me that the supplement industry has gotten out of control (new products are being developed by the day, while research to support their safe usage seems to be lagging behind) and kids are taking things without understanding what they're taking. What bothers me the most is that high school/sports team coaches encourage the usage of sport supplementation for these kids. I'm dead set against sports supplements (for any age group, except by prescription), but I was wondering what you all think. What should be done, if anything? Do you think there is really a problem? If yes, why? If no, why?

There actaully are age requirements already in place to prevent minors ( kids < 18 years old) from buying certain products containing high amounts of stimulants or hormone replacement products such as HGH enhancers and testosterone boosters.

I do agree however that there is a major problem with the "buyer's market" mentality that some supplement companies have adopted in the last 10 years.

The only real solution though, is that the true responsibility lies with the parents to provide a thorough education on subjects like sports nutrition and supplementation. Just like the controversy over sex education in public schools, the parents are the final resting place for blame, and if they don't monitor their child in his/her supplementation, I don't think the company selling the product is to blame.

no, I think that drinking something like a red bull is OK. Also, taking supplements is not that bad. If you were low on energy during football practice wouldn't you take an energy tablet then go home and rest?? Now i do think they are over used but that is something that ppl need to find within themselves. If it bothers you that much move to Canada. You know you have to be 18 or over to purchase red bull there.


( don't take this personaly it is just what i think and with the Cananda thing i don't mean it in an ofensive way just mean that it seems like a better environment for you)