If caffeine was just introduced today, do you think it would be illegal?

[Davy Agrimath]

Or possibly regulated to where you can only purchase caffeinated beverages at a certain age, just like cigarettes? Nothing against caffeine, I love coffee. Just curious your thoughts, as it is a stimulating drug with potential side effects.

 

[MartinK]

Hard to tell it does contain the psychoactive drug caffeine that is in the same family of drugs as cocaine and methamphetamines. But employers make sure there is always coffee handy to keep the mice running in the wheel.

 

[gadfly swatter]

would it or should it? do doubt a lot of people who answer that it would be banned will be misunderstood as if they thought it would be a good idea. transfat has been banned in many places. there are efforts to ban msg and table salt and sugary drinks and lots of other things in places. some people have no clue what the concept of limited government means and why the founders of this country sat down and took the time to place limitations on government power. my theory is that whatever control freaks can get away with controlling, they will. there are virtually no limits to the extent of how much they will attempt to control you "for your own good" and in the interest of "fairness".

 

[Rocky Mtn High]

Would likely require a prescription. Alcohol would be outright banned if it had just been discovered.

 

[badd302]

Probably, they love to make everything good illegal. Look at Ephedrine. That stuff is actually better as it doesnt give you a stomach ache and headache like caffeine does. That too was sold over the counter, until these jerks that take a whole bottle in one day. So, the rest of us cant have it cause of the few that abuse it, which I think is totally wrong. Our government is a control freak, like we are all drooling idiots that have no clue and basically cannot get out of our own way. At least that is how I think they treat us.