Questionable "boosters"

Gambling around the clock: What are 12-year-olds drinking?

The 12-year-old son of a "Krone" reader had seen the mysterious powder at his favorite game streamer "Trymacs" (see photo) - and promptly blew his pocket money.

(Bild: facebook.com/levlupde, Krone KREATIV)

Twelve-year-old Leon (name changed by the editors) had seen it on his favorite YouTuber "TryMacs": a colorful drink that the streamer raved about that was supposed to boost performance in video games. There were even discount codes. He promptly spent 90 euros of pocket money on two cans of "LevlUp" powder at 40 euros each and a 10-euro plastic cup. When the boy received the delivery, he had a rude awakening.

"I opened the two tins and tried them out. Then I started shaking and sweating," Leon remembers the day the mysterious drink powder arrived. After two cups of LevlUp, the boy got palpitations, became hyperactive and, according to his parents, had to go outside to let off steam. The parents took a closer look at the product and read in the small print: Do not drink more than one cup per day, unsuitable for under-16s. But no one had checked Leon's age when he bought it from the manufacturer's online store. What was the twelve-year-old drinking and how dangerous is it? A search for clues.