And then they came for the caffeine

High street coffee shops could pose a risk to pregnant women because of big variations in the amount of caffeine in each cup, research suggests.

Research always 'suggests' that it is the retailer who may harm the consumer, never that the consumers personal choices may be harmful to themselves. It's those greedy corporations targeting the vulnerable who are unable to decide on purchases for themselves. Now it's 'Big Coffee' forcing pregnant women to enter their shops and drink their wares.

If caffeine is harmful to unborn babies, it's up to the pregnant woman not to drink it, just like they may choose to stay away from cigarettes or alcohol, yet I can see another call for government regulation coming up; another demand for regulations that will stifle business even further in the interests of 'public health'.

Analysis of espresso coffee from 20 shops found that one was six times stronger than others.
Researchers from Glasgow University tested caffeine levels in espressos bought from high street coffee shops.
"The analysis that we did showed the amount of caffeine ranged from 50mg per cup from Starbucks, up to over 300mg per cup from another coffee house, Patisserie Francoise," he said. "I was very surprised by this."

Different coffee houses make their drinks in different ways. They all come from those big machines with different styles from shop to shop, and they all use different types of coffee, whose caffeine content varies across brands. If you tested Sainsburys basics coffee against Nescafe Gold Blend you would see a big difference in caffeine content.

"The problem comes with people who should have a limited caffeine intake.
"You metabolise caffeine much more slowly when you're pregnant and people with liver disease do not have the enzymes to metabolise caffeine.
"Our data shows that you can have the recommended amount - and more - from just one shot of espresso."

I have a limited caffeine intake. I wouldn't dream of drinking a coffee in one of these trendy new Starbucks and associated places. Not just because I find that style of coffee vile, but because I'm aware that the caffeine content is far higher than your basic instant from a tin and I need to watch what I drink. I am quite capable of monitoring my own caffeine intake and staying away from coffee shops for my own health reasons, as I'm sure pregnant women and anyone else who needs to watch their intake are. What we don't need is the state stepping in to look after us.

The researchers point out that despite the increasing number of coffee shops on the high street there is no information about the caffeine contents of various types of coffee.

Oh. Someone thinks we do.

Demanding the coffee shops put caffeine counts on their products will increase costs that will be passed on to the consumer. It will also take away the customers need to think, dumbing them down even further and opening the gates for people to sue coffee shops after having ill effects from 'not noticing' the caffeine counts and drinking far too much of the stuff.
This is a perfect opening for a fake charity fighting against caffeine. Is anyone going to step up?

Or you could just leave businesses alone to sell their products without interference, and consumers alone to make their own choices. Huh?