Daily roundup January 11: Energy drinks, teacher stress, and youth unemployment

A Conservative MP has called for a ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. The BBC reports that Maria Caulfield raised the issue in Prime Minister's Questions following the suicide of a 25-year-old constituent. She said Justin Bartholomew's family were "convinced" his intake of more than 15 cans of energy drink a day had increased his anxiety and contributed to his death. Theresa May said the government had taken action over high-sugar drinks and will continue to look at the evidence on energy drinks.


Teaching unions are warning of an "epidemic of stress" after research found that 3,750 teachers were signed off on long-term sick in 2016/17 because of work pressure, anxiety, or mental illness. The Guardian reports that figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show a five per cent rise on the figure for 2015/16.
 
 
A target to cut youth unemployment in Scotland has been met four years ahead of schedule. The Scotsman reports that the Scottish government's goal of reducing the youth unemployment by 40 per cent was achieved last year, with the figure dropping from 52,000 in 2014 to 27,000 in 2017.
 
 
Social workers have criticised Channel 4's new drama for portraying them as "eccentric alcoholics". The Daily Mail reports that Kiri, which debuted on Wednesday evening, centres on the character of Miriam, a hipflask-swigging social worker who is dragged into the harrowing case of a little girl's abduction. Despite hailing the performance of Sarah Lancashire in the lead role, many viewers were angered by her character drinking on the job and taking her dog to work.


A scheme to safeguard children affected by domestic abuse is being rolled out across Devon and Cornwall. The Plymouth Herald reports that the system, which was initially launched in Plymouth seven years ago, sees police share reports of domestic abuse incidents where children were present.