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How Dangerous Are Energy Drinks?

Verywell / Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and a variety of other legal stimulants.
• Experts warn that energy drinks can increase blood pressure and cause irregular heart rhythms.
• Combining alcohol and energy drinks may cause further health problems and increase the risk of binge drinking.

Energy drinks are one of the most popular dietary supplements in America—only second to multivitamins for some age groups. In fact, over 30% of teens aged 12–17 consume energy drinks on a regular basis.

Experts warn that these highly caffeinated, often sugary, drinks may be associated with increased blood pressure, weight gain, headaches, anxiety, dental problems, dehydration, and heart disease.

Despite the risks, energy drinks continue to grow in popularity. Celebrities promote these drinks on TikTok and global energy drink sales are expected to top $53 billion by the end of this year, with a 7.1% increase projected by 2027.

Why So Popular?

Since energy drinks are known to contain high levels of caffeine, they are associated with mental and physical boosts. They are often used by athletes to increase performance and by students to enhance study sessions.

How Much Caffeine Is Safe?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day is safe for most adults. That’s the amount you’d get from about 4 cups of coffee or around a dozen 12-ounce cans of Coca-Cola .

For young adults, the caffeine recommendations are much less.

“If an adolescent is in taking caffeine, the maximum that they should intake per day is 100 milligrams,” Priscilla Mpasi, MD , a pediatrician and region II chairperson with the National Medical Association, told Verywell.

Energy Drink Caffeine Content

• Red Bull : An 8.4-ounce can contains 80 mg of caffeine
• Monster : A 16-ounce can contains 160 mg of caffeine
• Celsius Essential Energy : A 16-ounce can contains 200 mg of caffeine
• Bang : A 16-ounce can contains 300 mg of caffeine

Many energy drinks contain well over 100 mg of caffeine, which is one reason why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against any child or adolescent consuming them.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 16-oz energy drinks contain anywhere from 70 to 240 mg of caffeine on average. Bang, a fast-growing company that has blown up on TikTok , offers 300 mg of caffeine in its 16-oz energy drink.  This product even comes with a warning label stating that it is “not recommended” for children under 18 and should not be consumed with any other caffeine-containing products.

Other Ingredients Are Problematic, Too

While high levels of caffeine are a major reason experts caution against consuming energy drinks, Mpasi said she is also concerned about the other additives in energy drinks.

“You have caffeine, but there’s other legal stimulants on the market such as guarana, taurine, L-carnitine, that can be in the energy drink. And just a glance at the label or even the front of the marketing, that is not easily visible,” she said.

Experts say that not enough is known about these other additives to make recommendations for safe levels of consumption.

Energy Drinks May Contribute to Heart Disease

Martha Gulati, MD, MS , a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, told Verywell that one of the biggest concerns with energy drinks are irregular heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias, that can occur due to “hyperstimulation of the heart.”

Arrhythmias can impact the amount of blood pumped throughout the body, making you feel faint. Over time, untreated arrhythmias could lead to more serious or fatal conditions.

“The other thing that I think people underestimate is the effect of energy drinks on blood pressure,” Gulati said.

A randomized control trial from 2019 found that energy drinks elevated blood pressure in otherwise healthy young adults. And another study published this year connected energy drinks with hypertension in children and teenagers.

Gulati said that energy drinks might pose an even greater risk for people who already have hypertension since these drinks can increase their blood pressure further on a regular basis. However, she said many people don’t realize they have hypertension, especially if they are young.

Long-term energy drink consumption could lead to heart failure or heart attacks, but experts say it is hard to test these associations with randomized control trials. This lack of evidence leads experts to broadly caution against energy drinks.

“I think that people should be careful with what they consume,” Gulati said.

Alcohol Makes Things Worse

In addition to the concerns about consuming energy drinks on their own, experts also caution against combining alcohol with energy drinks.

Mpasi told Verywell that alcohol acts as a depressant while energy drinks are a stimulant, which can confuse your body’s neurotransmitters.

“Your brain is going to be getting a lot of different signals—you don’t know how your brain and your body will respond to drinking alcohol and an energy drink together,” she said.

In 2010, the FDA cracked down on caffeinated alcoholic beverages, which led companies like Four Loko to reformulate their recipe and remove the caffeine, guarana, and taurine from their products.

However, Jägerbombs, Vodka Redbulls, and other energy drink cocktails are still sold in bars and mixed at home. The CDC reported in 2017 that almost 32% of adults aged 19–28 consumed an energy drink with alcohol in the previous year.

Gulati told Verywell that combining alcohol with caffeine means it will take longer for the caffeine to leave your body.

“That means you’re stimulated for an even longer time than maybe you would be if you took either of them separately,” she said.

Experts say this additional stimulation can lead to people consuming more alcohol than they might otherwise. The CDC reported that young adults who consumed alcohol and energy drinks together were more likely to binge drink than those who did not mix these substances.

It Can Be Difficult to Consume Energy Drinks Safely

While a single energy drink may contain less than the 400 mg of caffeine considered safe by the FDA, people who rely on these drinks might find themselves consuming more than one to feel the same effects.

A 2015 study of nursing students using energy drinks to stay awake while studying for exams found that some of the students consumed as many as 30 energy drinks in a week.

“The effects that they might feel early on when they take these energy drinks and feel more awake and feel more stimulated tend to wear off in time,” Gulati said.

Some athletes also use energy drinks for performance, but experts say it is important to discuss the pros and cons with a trusted healthcare provider first.

“Don’t assume food and drink manufacturers have your best interests at heart,” Gulati said. “They’re just trying to sell something to you.”

What This Means For You

In addition to caffeine and other stimulant additives, many energy drinks contain high levels of sugar. Experts say that the sugar content in energy drinks can contribute to weight gain and dental issues.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Energy drinks .

Al-Shaar L, Vercammen K, Lu C, Richardson S, Tamez M, Mattei J. Health effects and public health concerns of energy drink consumption in the united states: a mini-review .  Front Public Health . 2017;5:225. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00225

Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the beans: how much caffeine is too much?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The buzz on energy drinks .

Beverage Industry . 2020 state of the beverage industry: energy drinks, mixes maintain steady growth .

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. What Is an arrhythmia?

Shah SA, Szeto AH, Farewell R, et al. Impact of high volume energy drink consumption on electrocardiographic and blood pressure parameters: a randomized trial .  J Am Heart Assoc . 2019;8(11):e011318. doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.011318

Oberhoffer FS, Li P, Jakob A, Dalla-Pozza R, Haas NA, Mandilaras G. Energy drinks: effects on blood pressure and heart rate in children and teenagers. A randomized trial .  Front Cardiovasc Med . 2022;9:862041. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.862041

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and caffeine .

Kim IK, Kim KM. Energy drink consumption patterns and associated factors among nursing students: a descriptive survey study .  J Addict Nurs . 2015;26(1):24-31. doi:10.1097/JAN.0000000000000061

By Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown is a nutrition writer, educator, and culinary instructor.

How Bad Are Energy Drinks for You, Really?

Beverages that claim to boost energy naturally appeal to a sleep-starved population — but how effective and how safe are they? The truth may surprise you.

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It’s not news that Americans are chronically tired. According to  a Gallup poll , 1 in 3 adults, about 84 million people, fail to get the minimum seven hours of shut-eye a night recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine , and as many as 70 million have a sleeping disorder, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association .

That may explain the mania Americans have for energy drinks. These beverages, which claim to boost energy, increase physical stamina, and enhance mental alertness, rank just behind multivitamins at the top of the list of the most popular supplements taken by teens and young adults, reports the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) .

In spite of their popularity, however, there are many questions about whether these drinks deliver on those claims, and whether they do so safely. Different bottled energy drinks contain different levels of caffeine and other stimulants, and sometimes other ingredients. You're not alone if you’ve ever wondered if energy drinks are bad for you — and if so just how bad?

“If someone is dealing with a chronic lack of sleep , consuming an energy drink may provide them with an acute jolt of energy,” says Sam Schleiger, RDN, a functional medicine registered dietitian and the owner of Simply Nourished Functional Nutrition in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. But that temporary fix may cause more harm than good by interfering with sleep and creating a vicious cycle. Plus, there are a number of health conditions that have fatigue and poor sleep as symptoms, which is why Schleiger recommends consulting a healthcare practitioner to investigate potential root causes and rule out any underlying conditions.

What Exactly Is an Energy Drink?

The beverage aisle is increasingly crowded with all kinds of functional drinks, including prebiotic sodas and adaptogenic beverages that feature herbal ingredients such as CBD and ginseng. Energy drinks are not the newest in the category, but they are among the most popular. In 2023, U.S. sales of energy drinks totaled around $18.5 billion, according to  Statista .

These beverages, which include brands like Monster, Bang, Rockstar, and Red Bull, tend to come in cans with sleek, striking packaging and are often formulated with caffeine and other stimulants. Sports drinks , on the other hand, may appear similarly sleek and brightly colored, but are often bottled and designed to appeal to more active consumers with ingredients that promote hydration and replace electrolytes.

Under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classification system, sports drinks are grouped with other beverages as “food” and subject to strict labeling laws, while energy drinks are considered supplements, which have more lax labeling and safety regulations. But the FDA leaves the decision of whether a product is a sports drink or an energy drink up to manufacturers, according to the United States Anti-Doping Agency . There is no official review procedure for these labeling practices, either, which means there are a lot of products on shelves that could contain questionable ingredients or unsafe amounts of them.

Energy drinks can be sold in 12- or 16-ounce (oz) cans or bottles, like sodas, as well as 2 or 2.5 oz sizes, commonly called energy shots, per the NCCIH . These smaller products are more concentrated and often have an amount of caffeine similar to that in a full-size drink.

What Is in Energy Drinks?

Energy drinks are all formulated differently, so the ingredients and amounts vary greatly among brands, but all provide an energy boost via some kind of stimulant, usually caffeine. The amount can vary greatly: For example, an 8 oz cup of coffee usually has 100 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, while a 16 oz energy drink can contain anywhere from 70 to 240 mg, reports the NCCIH . (A 12 oz can of caffeinated soda clocks in at 35 mg.)

Many energy drinks contain additional stimulants, including those labeled “natural,” but that doesn’t necessarily make them any healthier. Guarana, one common ingredient in energy drinks, is a plant extract that has been used as a stimulant and contains caffeine, but has also been linked to tremor, jitteriness, agitation, confusion, hypertension , and dehydration in large doses, per the National Library of Medicine. Yohimbe is another common ingredient added to energy drinks. It comes from an evergreen tree in western and central Africa and is reported to enhance athletic performance, weight loss, blood pressure, and more, but there is limited research on the truth of those claims, per the NCCIH .

Energy drinks also tend to be high in sugar — it’s frequently listed second after water among the ingredients, reports Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . The original Green Monster Energy drink , for example, contains 160 mg of caffeine and 54 grams (g) of sugar in a 16 oz can. That amount far exceeds the American Heart Association's recommendation of no more than 36 g or 9 teaspoons (tsp) of sugar a day for men, and 25 g or 6 tsp per day for women.

Sugar is an energy source, but not the healthiest kind. Too much sugar can have negative health consequences and can lead to heart disease , obesity, fatty liver disease and more, according to the findings of an umbrella review published in BMJ in April 2023 . The results also show that consuming sugar from sodas, energy drinks, or refined carbs leads to an increase in glucose in the bloodstream that spikes energy before leading to a crash, which means sugar isn’t a sustainable energy boost.

Nutritional Drawbacks

All the added sugar in energy drinks is known to be problematic for a healthy diet. But a sugar-free energy drink isn’t a good solution, either. A study published in BMJ in 2022 showed an association between artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose, and an increased the risk of  cardiovascular diseases . In 2023, the World Health Organization made an official recommendation against the use of non-nutritive sweeteners, citing a lack of evidence to support their use for weight loss or to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and even suggested potential undesirable health effects from their long-term use. In spite of this evidence, the FDA maintains that sugar substitutes are safe .

Excessive amounts of caffeine and other stimulants found in energy drinks can also have detrimental health effects. Many energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine or combine various stimulants, and aren't required to label the exact quantity, so it can be difficult to know exactly how much you're consuming, per the NCCIH . The FDA advises people not to consume more than 400 mg of caffeine per day, so in one energy drink you might ingest more than half the suggested daily limit.

How Much Is Safe to Drink?

Because of the high amount of caffeine and other stimulants, energy drinks aren't beverages to drink regularly. “While I don't often recommend it, consuming an occasional energy drink in moderation is generally considered okay for most people,” says Schleiger. She says "occasional" can be subjective and may mean once a week or only a few times a month, depending on the person.

It’s important to know if you have any health conditions that contraindicate excessive amounts of caffeine. “High blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety or depression are a few conditions when an overload of caffeine can work against you,” says Sylvia Klinger, RDN, the founder of Hispanic Food Communications  in Hinsdale, Illinois.

If you suffer from insomnia, avoid reaching for an energy drink as a means to stay alert. “Individuals with insomnia or other sleep disorders should avoid consuming energy drinks, especially in the late afternoon or evening, to prevent further disruption of sleep patterns,” says Schleiger.

She points out that the effects of energy drinks can vary from person to person, and those with specific health concerns may be more susceptible to adverse reactions. If you have a health condition and are uncertain if consuming energy drinks is a good idea, speak with a medical professional first. Anyone who is pregnant or nursing, or who has a sensitivity to caffeine, is advised to avoid energy drinks as well.

Even if you don't have an underlying health condition, drinking too many energy drinks can cause health issues. “Excessive consumption of energy drinks can lead to negative health effects, including increased heart rate, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues,” says Schleiger. “Some individuals may be more sensitive to caffeine and experience these effects at lower doses.”

Like other caffeinated beverages, energy drinks are not recommended for children younger than 12, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which also states that teens should avoid consuming them. Despite these warnings, many energy drinks are marketed to these very age groups. The brand Prime Energy came under fire for targeting children, NBC News reported.

“Children and teens with certain health conditions, such as heart conditions or anxiety disorders, may be more susceptible to the negative effects of energy drinks,” says Schleiger. “Parents should consult with healthcare providers to determine if such beverages are safe for their child.”

Dietitian-Approved Ways to Boost Energy

If you want to get over an afternoon slump, there are ways to perk up that don’t come in a can or bottle. Klinger recommends these natural ways to power through.

• Rest She says nothing can recharge the body like a good night's sleep. “Resting helps the body to recover and repair all the damage done to our body during the day,” she says.
• Exercise    Exercise is good for the body and the mind, and it's also a great way to increase your energy levels. “The benefits of exercise are monumental and one of them is boosting your energy level,” Klinger says. “There are plenty of activities that don't require expensive equipment or even leaving your house; jumping rope in your garage, walking to do your errands, or even playing with your kids can count towards your recommended 60 minutes of exercise every day.” According to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , exercise helps oxygen circulate throughout the body, which aids the body in using energy more efficiently.
• Hydrate “Getting sufficient liquids and foods with high water content can help you boost energy, stay focused, and increase alertness,” says Klinger. Fruits and vegetables with high water content and soups are great ways to increase your water intake and will aid in sustaining your energy levels, per Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . “Start with a glass of water as soon as you wake up and keep drinking about 8 oz of water every hour until before dinner,” she says.

Now you know why energy drinks aren’t a healthy beverage choice for regular consumption. There are better and more natural ways to boost your energy and manage your chronic tiredness other than reaching for this caffeine-spiked drink.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

• The State of Sleep Health in America 2023. American Sleep Apnea Association.
• Healthy Sleep. American Academy of Sleep Medicine .
• Casper-Gallup State of Sleep in America 2022 Report. Gallup.
• Energy Drinks vs. Sports Drinks: What’s the Difference? U.S. Anti-Doping Agency .
• How Much Sugar Is Too Much? American Heart Association .
• Children Should Avoid Drinks With Sugar, Caffeine. American Academy of Pediatrics . December 2023.
• Energy Drinks. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health . July 2018.
• Energy Drinks. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . July 2020.
• Huang Y et al. Dietary Sugar Consumption and Health: Umbrella Review. BMJ . April 2023.
• Debras C et al. Artificial Sweeteners and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: Results From the Prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort. BMJ . September 2022.
• Natural Ways to Boost Energy.  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . October 1, 2022.
• Does Exercise Really Boost Energy Levels? Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . July 1, 2021.
• WHO Advises Not to Use Non-Sugar Sweeteners for Weight Control in Newly Released Guideline. World Health Organization . May 15, 2023.
• Guarana. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury . January 2023.

Even ‘healthier’ energy drinks may be bad for you, warn experts

October 17, 2022 – Sales of energy drinks are on the rise, spurred by a host of new options being marketed as “healthier.” But experts continue to warn of the harmful effects of the high caffeine and sugar content of these drinks.

Consuming too much of the drinks can result in high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, anxiety, and insomnia, and the drinks are particularly dangerous for adolescents, said Frank Hu , Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in an October 4, 2022 Wall Street Journal article. He added that sugarless energy drinks aren’t necessarily any safer, because the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners aren’t known.

“The large increase in consumption over the past couple of years is really concerning,” Hu said.

Read The Wall Street Journal article: Why Everyone Is Suddenly Slamming Energy Drinks

Teens Are Probably Drinking Too Much Caffeine

Products like Red Bull have sent thousands of adolescents to the emergency room. The people who market them insist they don’t need to be regulated.

Earlier this year, a half-dozen students from City Hill Middle School, in Naugatuck, Connecticut, traveled with their science teacher, Katrina Spina, to the state capital to testify in support of a bill that would ban sales of energy drinks to children under the age of 16. Having devoted three months to a chemistry unit studying the ingredients in and potential health impacts of common energy drinks—with brand names like Red Bull, Monster Energy, and Rockstar—the students came to a sobering conclusion: “Energy drinks can be fatal to everyone, but especially to adolescents,” a seventh grader, Luke Deitelbaum, told state legislators. “Even though this is true, most energy-drink companies continue to market these drinks specifically toward teens.”

A 2018 report found that more than 40 percent of American teens surveyed had consumed an energy drink within the past three months. Another survey found that 28 percent of adolescents in the European Union had consumed these sorts of beverages in the past three days.

This popularity is in marked contrast to the recommendations of groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine , who say youth should forgo these products entirely. These recommendations are based on concerns about health problems that, although rare, can occur after consumption, including seizures, delirium, rapid heart rate, stroke, and even sudden death. A U.S. government report found that from 2007 to 2011, the number of emergency-department visits involving energy drinks more than doubled, to nearly 21,000.

Of these, approximately 1,500 were children ages 12 to 17, although the number of visits from this age group increased only slightly over the four years.

For their part, energy-drink manufacturers argue that they are being unfairly targeted. At the Connecticut hearing, the head of public affairs for Red Bull North America, Joseph Luppino, maintained that there is no scientific justification to regulate energy drinks differently than other caffeine-containing beverages such as soda, coffee, and tea—particularly when some coffeehouses serve coffee with a caffeine content exceeding that of a can of Red Bull. “Age-gating is an incredibly powerful tool,” Luppino said, and should be reserved for “inherently dangerous products” like nicotine.

The showdown in Connecticut, which pitted the City Hill students against a growing $55-billion-a-year global industry, was the latest in an ongoing debate about the safety and regulation of energy drinks. In recent years, countries such as the United Kingdom and Norway have considered banning sales to young people, while Lithuania and Latvia have active bans in place. In the United States, along with Connecticut, state legislators in Maryland, Illinois, and Indiana have introduced bills, though none have been signed into law. A South Carolina bill to ban sales to kids under 18—and to fine those caught selling the drinks to minors— advanced through the legislature in April, and is now pending before the state’s full medical-affairs committee. It is supported by the parents of a 16-year-old who died from a caffeine-induced cardiac event after consuming a coffee, a soda, and an energy drink within a period of two hours.

Read: How much caffeine before I end up in the E.R.?

As the regulatory status of energy drinks continues to be debated, a growing number of consumers and public-health advocates are asking why and how a product loaded with caffeine and other stimulants became so popular among young people. The reasons are a mix of lax regulation, the use of caffeine as a sports-performance enhancer among adults, and a bit of scientific uncertainty.

According to the sports cardiologist John Higgins , a professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, there is also another factor: “very, very intelligent advertising.”

Historically, government agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have struggled to regulate beverages with added caffeine. Though it offers some guidance , the FDA allows manufacturers of liquid products to decide on their own whether to market their products as dietary supplements or as conventional foods and beverages, which carry differing regulatory requirements. All three major energy-drink makers now have most of their products regulated as foods rather than dietary supplements—though that wasn’t always the case.

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, in a 2008 review published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence , note that that lack of consistency is partly due to our long love affair with drinks in which caffeine is naturally occurring, including coffee and tea. In 1980, citing health concerns, the FDA proposed to eliminate caffeine from soft drinks, which are regulated as foods. The manufacturers, however, claimed the caffeine was a flavor enhancer. The FDA approved caffeine, but limited the maximum content of cola-type soft drinks to .02 percent, or roughly 71 milligrams per 12-ounce serving.

“If caffeine had not been accepted as a flavor enhancer, but had been regarded as a psychoactive ingredient,” write the Johns Hopkins researchers, “soft drinks might have been regulated by the FDA as drugs”—which are subject to additional regulations.

When energy drinks first appeared on the American market in the late 1990s and early 2000s, some manufacturers claimed the products were neither drugs nor conventional foods, but dietary supplements. Drugs with caffeine require warning labels, but dietary supplements don’t. “It is a striking inconsistency that, in the U.S. an [over-the-counter] stimulant medication containing 100 mg of caffeine per tablet (e.g. NoDoz) must include [a series of] warnings,” write the Johns Hopkins researchers, “whereas a 500 mg energy drink can be marketed with no such warnings and no information on caffeine dose amount in the product.”

As early as 2009, sports and medical organizations began issuing position statements discouraging energy-drink consumption by young people. In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that energy drinks “are not appropriate for children and adolescents, and should never be consumed.” Further, the group warned that adolescents might mistakenly use energy drinks, rather than sports drinks like Gatorade, for rehydration during physical activity. “Advertisements that target young people are contributing to the confusion,” wrote the authors.

Two years later, in 2013, questions about safety and marketing came to a head in the halls of Congress. Three Democratic senators launched an investigation into the marketing practices of energy-drink companies. They found that adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 are frequent targets of energy-drink marketing, and stated in a written report that “this population is also at risk for the detrimental impacts of energy-drink consumption.” The report also noted a range of claims not evaluated or substantiated by the FDA. For example, the makers of AMP Energy marketed the drinks as helping to “energize and hydrate the body,” while advertisements for Red Bull promised “increased concentration and reaction speed.”

(As it happens, a few months before the senate hearing, Monster Beverage Corporation and Rockstar announced their intention to follow in the footsteps of Red Bull by declaring their products to be foods, rather than dietary supplements.)

Among those providing testimony at a committee hearing was Jennifer L. Harris, a researcher at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, currently housed at the University of Connecticut. She and her team had conducted an earlier study of how sugary beverages are marketed to children. “What we learned about energy drinks stunned us,” she said at the hearing .

Energy-drink companies had been pioneers in using social media to market their products, said Harris. At the time of her study, Red Bull and Monster Energy were the fifth and 12th most popular brands on Facebook—a platform that was, at the time, particularly popular among college students and adolescents. Further, said Harris, “energy-drink brands often promote teen athletes and musicians and sponsor local events, where they provide free samples, including to minors.” The marketing is effective, she noted. Sales of most other beverage categories were declining, but energy-drink sales had increased by 19 percent the previous year, reaching $8 billion in 2012.

The energy-beverage industry vigorously defended its products and marketing practices. In his congressional statement, Rodney Sacks, the CEO of Monster Beverage, noted that a 16-ounce can of Monster Energy contains 160 mg of caffeine. In contrast, the equivalent amount of Starbucks coffee contains 330 mg—more than twice as much. Further, Monster cans include a label recommending against consumption by children. (According to guidelines put forth by the American Beverage Association, a trade group, energy drinks should not be marketed to children under 12, and other leading brands such as Red Bull and Rockstar carry similar labels recommending against consumption by children.)

Further, Sacks and representatives from Rockstar and Red Bull North America denied that their companies advertise to young teenagers. Doing this, said Sacks, “would undermine the credibility of the brand image in the eyes of young adults,”—nominally their target consumer demographic.

Not everyone buys this. A 2017 study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition , for example, tested whether young consumers perceived energy-drink advertising as being targeted at people their age and younger. Researchers at the University of Waterloo randomly assigned over 2,000 Canadians ages 12 to 24 to view one of four online ads for Red Bull. Among the youngest subjects—those ages 12 to 14—nearly 72 percent of participants who viewed an advertisement featuring the company’s sponsorship of the X Games, an extreme-sports event, perceived the ad to be targeted to people their age and younger.

The University of Waterloo researchers compare energy-drink marketing practices with those of 20th-century cigarette companies. “While tobacco advertising was ostensibly targeted only at adults,” they write, “it nevertheless achieved very high levels of reach and appeal among young people.”

Read: Juul’s new marketing is straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook

Further, and perhaps not surprisingly, across all age groups, 71 percent of those who were shown a Red Bull ad with a sports theme—the X Games, for example, or an image of an airborne snowboarder with accompanying text reading “RED BULL GIVES YOU WIIINGS”—thought the ad they viewed promoted the use of energy drinks during sports.

This is a problem, says Matt Fedoruk, the chief science officer at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Though his organization is perhaps best-known for its role in testing Olympic athletes for banned substances, it also promotes a positive youth-sports culture. Fedoruk says it fields questions about energy drinks from athletes of all ages.

“Caffeine is the most studied ergogenic aid on the planet,” says Fedoruk, and its use is widespread among elite athletes. Research has even produced recommended guidelines for ingestion prior to exercise. But these guidelines were developed for adults. Young people who try to follow them could quickly surpass the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines for adolescents: no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day, or roughly the amount in a typical cup of coffee. Further, because energy drinks are manufactured in adult serving sizes, says Fedoruk, it’s easy for a child to get too much. “Depending on the product you choose, you could definitely be dosing your young child or youth athlete in doses that far exceed what may be safe for their body weight and size.”

When it comes to youth athletes, “our experts recommend both water and sports drinks as the best options for hydration,” writes Danielle Eurich, a USADA spokesperson. Athletes exercising less than an hour probably don’t even need sports drinks, she adds. “Water would be best.”

Last year, John Higgins, the sports cardiologist, ran a small study in which healthy medical students downed a 24-ounce can of Monster Energy. Ninety minutes later, the students’ arteries were measured to test their ability to bounce back—or dilate—after being compressed by a blood-pressure cuff. Dilation helps control blood flow, increasing circulation when necessary, including during exercise. In this study, the medical students’ blood flow was “significantly and adversely affected,” says Higgins.

Higgins suspects that the combination of ingredients—the caffeine and other stimulants such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine, along with added vitamins and minerals—interferes with the endothelium, a thin layer of cells that control dilation. But he can’t say for certain because there hasn’t been enough research. Higgins’s own study was preliminary and lacked a control group. Further, a recent review by a group of Harvard researchers noted considerable limitations to the existing energy-drink literature. Most studies, the authors found, used small sample sizes or employed a cross-sectional design, which isn’t able to determine causation. Large longitudinal studies, meanwhile, require time and money.

Higgins says the main reason there is no evidence of safety is that energy drinks are not classified by most countries as drugs. “They are classified as supplements, additives, or whatever.” Until more data are available, Higgins’s opinion is that energy drinks should be avoided before, during, and after exercise. Anyone under 18 should avoid them entirely, he says. This recommendation has been endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Yet at the Connecticut hearing, Red Bull’s Joseph Luppino insisted that there is ample evidence of safety. He referenced the European Food Safety Authority, which conducts food-chain risk assessments for the European Union: “They have unequivocally concluded there are no synergistic effects between the various ingredients that are contained in energy drinks.”

When asked for a comment, the European agency pointed to its 2015 report , and a spokesperson explained the findings: In general, the combination of substances typically found in energy drinks “would not affect the safety of single doses of caffeine up to 200 mg.” Individuals who might drink a 16-ounce can of Rockstar or a 24-ounce can of Monster containing 240 mg of caffeine plus other stimulants were not considered by the analysis. The EU agency spokesperson also issued a caveat: There weren’t enough data to determine whether other common energy-drink ingredients like guarana and taurine influence the acute effects of caffeine on blood pressure.

Monster and Rockstar did not respond to repeated requests for comment. When asked about the discrepancy between Luppino’s characterization of the European report and the agency’s own characterization of its findings, Erin Mand, a spokesperson for Red Bull, pointed to particular passages in the report that suggest the safety of particular ingredient combinations up to 200 mg of caffeine. She additionally noted that “its single-serving products fall under 200 mg of caffeine.”

The American Beverage Association also did not respond to specific interview questions, but did provide this statement: “Energy drinks have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world for more than 30 years, and are recognized by government health agencies worldwide as safe for consumption. The amount of caffeine in energy drinks is typically half the amount found in a coffeehouse coffee and is no different from the caffeine found in other foods and beverages. Further, America’s mainstream energy drink companies have taken voluntary steps to ensure their products are not marketed to children.”

In the spring of 2017, Gary Watts, the coroner for South Carolina’s Richland County, released the autopsy results for Davis Cripe, the teenager whose death spurred the state’s bill to ban sales of energy drinks to minors. The cause of death: a caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a probable arrhythmia. “Typically you don’t see the results of an arrhythmia in an actual autopsy because there’s no real damage to the heart,” Watts says.

After Cripe collapsed at school, a staff member who had previously worked as a nurse in a cardiac unit diagnosed a cardiac arrhythmia.

“Who’s to say that this hasn’t happened before?” says Watts, whose office has performed autopsies on other young adults who died of sudden death. “It probably has—it’s just that we’ve not been able to document [the cause] with someone on the scene at the time who says, ‘Okay, this is an arrhythmia.’” Watts believes there are too many uncertainties about energy drinks to say that they are safe for adolescents. “I’m not trying to get rid of energy drinks,” he says. “I know a lot of people use them. But I do think that the age is a concern that everybody needs to be really serious about.”

As for the Connecticut bill, it has not moved out of committee, but in mid-May, the City Hill Middle School students and their teacher returned to the state capital to lobby lawmakers. They shared informational brochures created by the students, as well as informal results from a survey of students and parents, indicating widespread support for their bill among the latter. In the meantime, the students say, their siblings and peers continue to consume energy drinks—on soccer fields, in dugouts, and in front of video-game consoles.

“It’s so interesting,” a City Hill student, Emily Fine, said of energy-drink makers and their products, “how they still put them on the market.”

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Energy drinks could cause public health problems, says WHO study

Energy drinks will become a significant public health problem if their use among young people is not addressed through a cap on caffeine levels and restrictions on their sale and marketing, United Nations researchers have warned.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) study said the primary risk was from high caffeine levels, which can cause problems such as palpitations, hypertension, vomiting, convulsions and in extreme cases heart failure leading to death. The paper, published in Frontiers in Public Health on Tuesday, will add to concerns about the harmful effects of excessive energy-drink consumption.

João Breda, from WHO’s Regional Office for Europe , and colleaguesThe researchers wrote that caffeine has a proven negative effect on children.

They said: “The full impact of the rise in popularity of energy drinks has not yet been quantified, but the aggressive marketing of energy drinks targeted at young people, combined with limited and varied regulation have created an environment where energy drinks could pose a significant threat to public health.”

Global sales of energy drinks surged from £2.4bn in 1999 to £17.3bn in 2013 , according to Euromonitor . Red Bull is the UK’s third bestselling soft drink. Although some coffees have comparable levels of caffeine, energy drinks can be drunk cold and therefore more quickly.

The WHO study, a review of the literature, said there was also a proliferation of new products containing “extreme” caffeine levels, far higher than mainstream brands. Energy drinks also include other ingredients such as guarana, taurine and B vitamins, which the WHO researchers say require further investigation, including into their interaction with caffeine.

The paper, which does not represent WHO policy, said there was growing evidence of harm due to consumption of energy drinks with alcohol. A European Food Safety Authority study found that over 70% of 18- to 29-year olds who drink energy drinks mix them with alcohol.

The study authors said research has shown this is more risky than drinking alcohol alone, possibly because energy drinks make it harder for people to notice when they are getting drunk even though there is no reduction in intoxication.

They said energy drinks had also been linked to dangers when combined with physical activity – despite often being marketed as boosting sports performance – and to obesity and dental cavities.

The authors did not quantify what cap should be imposed on caffeine levels but stated that it should be evidence based. Other recommendations included making health practitioners aware of the potential dangers of excess caffeine consumption, screening patients with a history of diet problems and substance abuse for heavy consumption of energy drinks, educating the public about the risks of mixing them with alcohol and better labelling.

In the UK, the Food Standards Agency requires high-caffeine energy drinks to be labelled as such and from December they must contain a warning stating: “Not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.” A spokesman said: “The FSA advises that people who are sensitive to caffeine should only consume high caffeine drinks ... in moderation.” It is not planning further legislation at present.

Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA), said the review had failed to take into account the conclusions of other scientific articles, adding: “Several of the policy recommendations it makes are already well established through the BSDA’s voluntary code and EU regulation.” An industry code of practice restricts marketing energy drinks to children.

In May, Lithuania become the first EU state to pass legislation banning the sale of such drinks to minors.

• World Health Organization
• Food & drink industry
• Diets and dieting
• Young people

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Energy Drinks: Is It Bad Energy? Research Paper

Energy drinks have become products of choice among many consumers around the world. These drinks are marketed as energy boosters to improve performance, especially due to the effects of caffeine, which increases alertness. The history of energy drinks dates back to the early 20th century when Pepsi gained popularity. However, the controversy surrounding the sale and use of these products is as old as the drinks. In 1916, the federal suit United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola was meant to compel Coca-Cola to remove caffeine from its products. Since then, there have been sharply divided debates about the safety of energy drinks. As argued in this paper, these products should be banned because they have adverse health outcomes. The first point presented in this paper is that the consumption of energy drinks is strongly correlated with obesity and diabetes, especially among children and youths. The incidence rates of obesity and diabetes have been increasing consistently over the years, making it a major public health concern. Second, the consequences of caffeine on the human body are negative with long-term adverse outcomes. The federal suit mentioned earlier was based on this argument. Children are being exposed to dangerously high levels of daily caffeine intake, which is detrimental to their health. Third, the health effects of additives used in energy drinks, such as taurine, are unknown, and thus policymakers should not risk the health of future generations by allowing the sale of products without adequate scientific data concerning their long-term consequences.

Introduction

Energy drinks have gained popularity over the last few years due to aggressive advertisements by manufacturers and changing consumer preferences. These drinks contain added stimulants, such as caffeine, hence the claim that they boost energy to increase performance. However, despite the widespread usage of these products, there have been controversies surrounding the health implications of their continued intake. On the one hand, critics argue that energy drinks have negative health outcomes, especially those related to high levels of caffeine and sugar in the human body. On the other hand, proponents claim that these drinks are useful to the body and society as they increase performance. Energy drinks should be banned, due to adverse health outcomes, especially for children.

The concept of energy drinks dates back to the beginning of the 20th century when brands such as Pepsi became popular, and the controversies surrounding the safety of these products started at the time. In 1916, the federal suit United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola sought to force Coca-Cola to minimize the amount of caffeine in their drinks (Hogan, 2016). Since then, the addition of caffeine in drinks has elicited heated debates, which continue up to date. Proponents and critics have not agreed on whether caffeine is good or bad for human health. The issue has been compounded by the increased consumption of these drinks by children around the world.

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks should be banned because they promote excessive sugar intake, which is harmful to the body. Increased sugar intake among children, teenagers, and young adults affect their health adversely, as it leads to obesity, dental erosion, and it is a predisposing factor to diabetes type II. Supporters of energy drinks argue that there is no direct link between these products and obesity. The available research on the effects of sugar on the body shows that it leads to insulin resistance, which is the major cause of obesity and diabetes (Stanhope, 2016). A 500 ml can of most energy drinks contain over 55 g of sugar (Harris & Munsell, 2015), which is way above the recommended daily intake. Similarly, cases of diabetes have been on the rise over the last few years. The World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) estimates that there are 422 million diabetic people worldwide, with childhood diabetes becoming a major concern due to increasing cases of obesity, which is a leading predisposing factor. Therefore, based on these arguments, it is clear that energy drinks are “bad energy” and should be prohibited.

Similarly, the high caffeine levels in energy drinks are a major health concern, which justifies the calls for the banning of these products. Proponents of energy drinks claim that caffeine has immense health benefits. However, all manufactures of energy drinks have placed a warning on their products warning consumers that they should not take above a specified amount in a day due to caffeine-related health complications that might arise. The available evidence shows that children and teenagers should not take more than 142 mg of caffeine in a day (Wilkoff et al., 2017). However, a 500 ml can of Monster, a popular energy drink, contains at least 160 g of caffeine. Therefore, if a child takes two cans in a day, which is a common trend among youth, he or she has exceeded the minimum daily requirement by two-fold. The long-term effects of such behaviors are not known, hence the need to ban the sale of these products. It is better to error on the side of caution, than to experiment with the health of children, putting future generations at complicated health risks.

Finally, energy drinks should be banned due to the healthy halo ingredients added to the products. These drinks have a wide range of added components, such as taurine, which are marketed as efficient stimulants to increase performance. Supporters of energy drinks claim that such components are meant to boost the vitality of the products. However, the effects of these additives are unknown, leading to the ban of energy drinks in some countries, including France, Denmark, Uruguay, and Norway (Bradshaw, 2018). Therefore, as argued earlier, regulators should not gamble with the health of uninformed consumers, who have been targeted by aggressive capitalists after profiteering, by allowing the continued sale of energy drinks.

The manufacture and sale of energy drinks have been a controversial public health issue since the emergence of such products in the early 20th century. On the one hand, manufacturers argue that energy drinks are useful to the body as they boost performance. On the other hand, critics are concerned with the adverse health effects associated with these products, especially on children and youths. As shown in this paper, energy drinks should be banned because they contribute significantly to the increasing cases of obesity and diabetes type II, negative outcomes of caffeine, and the unknowns surrounding additives, such as taurine. Therefore, the claims by the proponents of the manufacturing and sale of energy drinks are invalidated based on the arguments made in this paper. As such, it suffices to conclude that energy drinks are “bad energy”, which should be banned immediately from the market.

Bradshaw, B. (2018). Five things to know about why we need a ban on energy drinks to children . Food Active. Web.

Harris, J. L., & Munsell, C. R. (2015). Energy drinks and adolescents: What’s the harm? Nutrition Reviews , 73 (4), 247-257.

Hogan, E. (2016). Right to try legislation and its implication for the FDA drug approval process. Washington University Journal of Law and Policy , 50 , 171-194.

Stanhope, K. L. (2016). Sugar consumption, metabolic disease and obesity: The state of the controversy. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences , 53 (1), 52-67.

WHO. (2020). Diabetes. Web.

Wilkoff, D., Welsh, T., Henderson, R., Brorby, P., Britt, J., Myers, E., Goldberger, J., Lieberman, R., O’Brien, C., Peck, J., Tenenbein, M., Weaver, C., Harvey, S., Urban, J., & Doepker, C. (2017). Systematic review of the potential adverse effects of caffeine consumption in healthy adults, pregnancy women, adolescents and children. Food Chemical Toxicology, 109 , 585-648.

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Scientists See Dangers in Energy Drinks

By Jane E. Brody

• Jan. 31, 2011

With widespread alarm about deaths linked to alcohol-and-caffeine-laced commercial drinks like the fruity malt beverage Four Loko, it’s easy to overlook problems that may be linked to the so-called energy drinks that spawned them.

But a number of scientists are worried about highly caffeinated beverages like Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster and Full Throttle, which are popular among teenagers and young adults.

The often bizarre combination of ingredients in these drinks prompted three researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of Queensland in Australia to examine what is known — and not known — about the contents of these beverages, which are sold alongside sodas and sport drinks in supermarkets, drugstores and highway rest stops.

Their review of all the studies in English in the scientific literature, published in November in The Mayo Clinic Proceedings, led them to question both the effectiveness and safety of energy drinks.

Long-Term Effects Unclear

The researchers noted that the drinks contain high levels of caffeine and warned that certain susceptible people risk dangerous, even life-threatening, effects on blood pressure, heart rate and brain function.

The authors noted that “four documented cases of caffeine-associated death have been reported, as well as five separate cases of seizures associated with consumption of energy/power drinks.” Additional reports include an otherwise healthy 28-year-old man who suffered a cardiac arrest after a day of motocross racing; a healthy 18-year-old man who died playing basketball after drinking two cans of Red Bull; and four cases of mania experienced by individuals known to have bipolar disorder.

Using an abbreviation for energy beverages, Dr. John P. Higgins and co-authors wrote in the Mayo journal that because “teens and young adults, both athletes and nonathletes, are consuming E.B.’s at an alarming rate, we need to determine whether long-term use of E.B.’s by this population will translate into deleterious effects later.”

His co-author Troy D. Tuttle, an exercise physiologist at the Houston university, said in an interview: “Almost all the studies done on energy drinks have involved small sample sizes of young, healthy individuals in whom you’re unlikely to see short-term ill effects.

“But what about the long term? What about liver and cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes? We could speculate about a lot of possible problems, but we just don’t know.”

He urged the Food and Drug Administration to “step in and regulate this market,” which currently has few restrictions on the kinds and amounts of ingredients and the claims that are made about them. Manufacturers have labeled the beverages “dietary supplements,” which absolves them of the federal regulations that govern sodas and juices and allows producers to make “structure and function” claims, like “Enhances athletic performance” and “Increases caloric burn and mental sharpness.”

As Mr. Tuttle described the marketing strategy for energy drinks, “the companies have taken a cup of coffee — or two or more cups of coffee, added a lot of hip-sounding stuff and marketed it with a hot, modern, trendy push for young people who want to look cool walking around with a can of Red Bull.

“Anyone can buy these drinks, even 11- and 12-year-old kids.”

In an e-mailed statement, the American Beverage Association said, “Most mainstream energy drink brands voluntarily put statements on their containers, including advisories about use by people sensitive to caffeine.” Also, the organization said many of its members voluntarily list the amount of caffeine on their product labels or have provided caffeine content information through their Web sites and consumer hot lines.

Kevin A. Clauson, a doctor of pharmacy at Nova Southeastern University in West Palm Beach, Fla., who had previously reviewed safety issues surrounding energy drinks said that his main concerns were “the amount of caffeine, which can be injurious particularly to people with a pre-existing cardiovascular abnormality” and “the effects of these drinks when they are combined with alcohol, which can have disastrous consequences.”

After several states made moves to ban Four Loko, it was reformulated to remove the caffeine and two other ingredients, guarana and taurine, but Dr. Clauson said that was “unlikely to have a substantial impact” on young people, who will continue to combine alcohol with energy drinks. The caffeine and caffeinelike ingredients in these drinks can mask the perception of inebriation — and that can increase the risk of drunken driving or other dangerous behaviors.

Mr. Tuttle, who works with sports teams, is concerned about the effects of energy drinks on athletic performance. “A lot of kids are reaching for energy beverages instead of sport drinks, which unlike the energy drinks are mostly water with a nominal amount of sugar and electrolytes,” he said. “The energy drinks contain a slew of ingredients, most of which are unresearched, especially in combination with one another.”

A Potent Brew

For an athlete engaged in intense exercise, the high doses of sugar in energy drinks can impair absorption of fluids and result in dehydration. A 16-ounce can of an energy drink may contain 13 teaspoons of sugar and the amount of caffeine found in four or more colas. Mr. Tuttle noted that caffeine, which is known to improve muscle action and performance, especially in endurance activities, is banned in many sports competitions. Thus, consuming an energy drink close to an event could disqualify an athlete.

Other ingredients often found in energy drinks include taurine, glucuronolactone, B vitamins, ginseng, guarana, ginkgo biloba and milk thistle. Mr. Tuttle says guarana, which contains high levels of caffeine, is particularly worrisome.

“The B vitamins, which are important enzymes for energy utilization, are added to legitimize the high levels of sugar,” he said. “But the American diet, which is very high in protein, already has plenty of B vitamins. These drinks are a kind of sensory overload for the body, with too much stuff coming in at the same time.”

Adding alcohol to the mix, as some consumers were doing even before drinks like Four Loko came along, can be a recipe for disaster. Under the stimulation of energy drinks, people may think they are sober when they are not. Such was the fate of Donte’ Stallworth, a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns who killed a pedestrian with his car in March 2009 after drinking multiple shots of tequila and a Red Bull. Mr. Stallworth said he did not feel intoxicated at the time of the accident.

“Caffeine is being treated as a flavoring agent, not a drug,” Dr. Clauson said. “The average healthy person who consumes one serving of an energy drink is unlikely to encounter difficulty.” Those most likely to get into trouble, he said, are “toxic jocks” who overindulge and those with an underlying heart condition.

Jane Brody’s Personal Health Advice

After joining the new york times in 1965, she was its personal health columnist from 1976 to 2022. revisit some of her most memorable writing:.

Brody’s first column, on jogging , ran on Nov. 10, 1976. Her last, on Feb. 21. In it, she highlighted the evolution of health advice  throughout her career.

Personal Health has often offered useful advice and a refreshing perspective. Declutter? This is why you must . Cup of coffee? Yes, please.

As a columnist, she has never been afraid to try out, and write about, new things — from intermittent fasting  to knitting groups .

How do you put into words the pain of losing a spouse of 43 years? It is “nothing like losing a parent,” she wrote of her own experience with grieving .

Need advice on aging? She has explored how to do it gracefully ,  building muscle strength  and knee replacements .

Teens and Energy Drinks: a Potentially Dangerous Combination

Here's what every parent needs to know about the health risks teens face from drinking these beverages.

Teens and Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are one of the fastest growing beverage products on the global market. The worldwide market is projected to increase to $84.8 billion by 2025, according to a report from the business consulting firm Grand View Research. It found that teens alone consumed $16.3 billion worth of energy drinks in 2016, and adolescent consumption is only expected to rise. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, alongside multivitamins, energy drinks are the most sought after dietary supplement consumed by teens and young adults, with males between 18 and 34 drinking the most energy drinks and about one-third of kids ages 12 to 17 consuming them regularly.

These drinks offer the promise of boosting mental and physical energy along with increased performance, making them highly appealing to young people. The main ingredient in these drinks is caffeine . Known for increasing mental alertness, this stimulant is the most widely consumed drug in the U.S. Found in products like chocolate, coffee, teas and many sodas, caffeine is often thought of as a harmless drug. And that may be true if it’s consumed in moderation, but these energy drinks contain between 70 to 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving!

Scientists agree that it’s OK for a healthy adult to have up to about 400 mg of caffeine per day (equivalent to four cups of coffee), but a teen, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids between the ages of 12 and 18 should not consume more than 100 mg (a cup of coffee, a couple of cups of tea or about two sodas) per day. Additionally, the Academy recommends that kids steer clear of energy drinks altogether. Unfortunately, our young people aren’t heeding that advice. Adolescents are reportedly the fastest-growing population of caffeine users in America. Research indicates 83 percent of teens drink caffeinated beverages regularly, and nearly 96 percent consume them occasionally.

Caffeine isn’t the only substance in energy drinks that give consumers a jolt. If you read the label, you’ll also find B vitamins, guarana, ginseng, green tea extracts and taurine, all known energy inducers. Due to the natural bitterness of caffeine, lots of sugar is often added to these drinks to make them taste syrupy sweet. So along with a surge of energy, kids can get a sugar high , which ironically can lead to a sugar crash. As more and more people are watching caloric intake, sugar-free versions of these energy drinks are becoming more popular, including with teens. Many kids report drinking them as a supplemental weight loss product. With all that's in energy drinks, research published last year in the Journal of the American Heart Association warns that there is little known about the safety of some of the ingredients. Now that’s something to be concerned about.

[Read: 9 Reasons to Eat Less Sugar That Have Nothing to Do With Weight Loss .]

With so many of these drinks flooding the market, teens have many to choose from and they don’t have to go far to find them. Just one visit to the supermarket, or convenience or health food store is all it takes to purchase one.

The companies producing energy drinks do a fantastic job of marketing their beverages to young people. It doesn’t take long to spot logos such as Red Bull or Monster at football games, Formula One races or snowboarding competitions, and at other popular sporting events. Energy drink companies even have sports personalities backing up their products, giving them the facade of being a "healthy" beverage that makes you perform better. Unfortunately, teens are drinking up that message. Adolescents report that they perceive energy drinks as a healthy alternative to soda. It can’t be that bad if it contains vitamins right? Of course, the truth is that these drinks can be extremely dangerous to teens.

Dangers Associated With Energy Drinks

In a study from Chapman University, 40 percent of teens reported an adverse effect while consuming energy drinks. These included:

• Abdominal pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Chest pains
• Gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Heart palpitations
• Heightened anxiety
• Feeling jittery or experiencing tremors

Researchers also discovered that about 15 percent of teens mixed their energy drinks with alcohol and about 9 percent consumed energy drinks in conjunction with other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Drinking energy drinks alone has some serious side effects, but adding drugs and alcohol to the mix can be a dangerous and potentially deadly combination.

[See: 4 Opioid Drugs Parents Should Have on Their Radar .]

Did you know that one energy drink can pose a danger to a young person, according to a Mayo Clinic study? These drinks not only cause blood pressure to rise but they also increase the release of stress hormones into the system, raising the risk of heart damage. Also, all that caffeine can start messing with a teen’s sleep-wake cycles, and according to research, teens are already sleep-deprived , getting on average only about seven hours of rest on a school night and needing around nine.

Without any age restrictions to limit sales of energy drinks to youth, any child or teen can purchase these products without parental knowledge. There is one state pushing to make a change though: South Carolina. This state is looking at requiring those purchasing energy drinks to be at least 18 years. If a proposed bill passes, South Carolina would be the first state in the nation to take a stance against selling energy drinks to minors – and maybe that would spur other states to do the same thing. Over time energy drinks can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms; after all, they do contain high concentrations of the drug caffeine.

To join the efforts to increase public awareness, the American College of Sports Medicine earlier this year put forth several recommendations for the sale and consumption of energy drinks. The ACSM advised:

• Energy drinks should not be marketed to kids and adolescents.
• These products not be consumed before, during or after vigorous exercise, since doing so has been linked to deaths.
• We should do more to educate youth about energy drink consumption. It was suggested formal education about energy drinks be a part of school nutrition and covered in health and wellness classes.

[Read: Teens, Your Brain Needs Real Food .]

Aside from educating youth at school, it’s important that we, as parents, take time to speak with our kids about the dangers and health risks associated with consuming energy drinks.

10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids' Health

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Dangers Of Energy Drinks Essay

Risks of Energy Drinks Energy drinks are something that has become popular over the years, not just for adults but for young children as well. Many people are convinced that consuming these drinks like Monster or Redbull actually enhances their performance. Although this is true, drinking energy drinks also has negative health risks for people, including behavioral and physiologic effects, life threatening situations, and other health risks. Due to these risks/negative effects, this is important that the consumption of energy drinks stop now. Drinking energy drinks can have negative effects on people’s health. Many risks are involved. So why do people continue to consume these drinks? The first negative effect of energy drinks is the behavioral and physiologic adverse effects on individuals. After consuming the drinks, many people have reacted in different ways which gave Deidrya A. E. Jackson and others the results that showed “The most frequently reported behavioral symptoms (50%) among energy drink users were running short of money, gotten into arguments with people, and felt stressed or overwhelmed. The most frequently reported physiologic symptoms (50%) among energy drink users were trouble sleeping, mind racing, headaches, and nausea ” (5). This means that the energy drink users behaviors were full of stubbornness while caught up in a situation and became overwhelmed with their activities. This is to show what behavioral and physiological effects that the ED’s

Are Energy Drinks Really That Bad

After reading the article “Are Energy Drinks Really That Bad?” I somewhat agree that energy drinks are the liquid cocaine to the youth, working class and modern society of 2015. There are so many different varieties, flavors and amounts; the different brands offering elongating hours of extra energy of phenomenal. With all the different varieties there is no end to the amount of energy drinks that can be taken in by one person. Including minors there is no legal drinking age on these drinks, even though if someone drinks too much it could have the same effect as alcohol. As noted in (its normal for the average adult to in take at least

Effects Of Energy Drink Consumption On All Age Groups Are Real And Impacts

Based on data obtained from limited English sources dated 2005 to 2010, energy drinks have become more popular among teenagers and young adults (Rath, 2012). SixWise.com’s (2008) article “What is really in a hot dog?” provided evidence that just because the product is purchased by the public does not automatically mean it is beneficial long term (Wyrick). This new craze of energy drinks has the world consuming them at a staggering rate. The debates concerning the effects among energy drink consumption in all age groups are real and impacts most of us in some shape or form. Some people will argue there are benefits found in some of the ingredients that enhance the psychological and physiological mental and cognitive performances such as

Energy Drinks Are Not Necessarily a Good Option

• 8 Works Cited

In the past few years, according to Diana Koelliker from Telluride Medical , a number of energy drinks have entered the market to provide all of us with a quick boost of energy, easily. These drinks usually contain high levels of caffeine and other additives that act as stimulants. Sometimes we need the extra pick me up to get us through the rest of the day or to help us stay awake while studying for an exam. So, what better way to do that then to grab a Red Bull or a Monster? Well studies have shown that energy drinks just may not be our best option.

The Effects Of Energy Drinks On The Human Body

There are a lot of effects energy drinks can do to your brain, for example Fox health says” Caffeine blocks the effects of adenosine. A brain chemical that helps you sleep (which is why too much can lead to insomnia)now, think about it your sleep is affected, if you drink a lot of energy drinks it will mess up your sleeping habits. Most people drink it when they work nights to allow them to stay up. Most energy drinks are not FDA approved that means ta it’s not healthy to drink it. It also if you chug one of them you could get hospitalized because all that sugar poured in the body and all the ingredients that is cause you to stay up and keep you going that is not good for you. My opinion is people don’t know what they are putting in there body. It can affect you brain they can affect what you thing if

Energy Drinks: Liquid Meth?

Despite all the controversy, most people can agree how useful a jolt of extra energy can be some days. Energy drinks can help a doctor be more alert during surgery during a graveyard-shift, help college students get that “A” they have been working towards all semester, or keep police officers vigilant and energized on the job. There’s no way of knowing exactly how many college students that graduated owe their diploma to caffeine, but it sure didn’t hurt to be able to pull all-nighters while being alert. People that enjoy exercise can lift-weights or do cardio way more effectively by drinking one before the work-out. Energy drinks are not only safe but they are making people more effective workers, students, or athletes.

Age Restriction Of Energy Drinks

According to “the American Academy of Paediatrics” it is advice not take energy drinks especially for young children and teens. They pointed out that since the main ingredient of energy drinks is caffeine it causes high blood pressure and sleeping disorders. And children and teens with existing health problems can contribute to abnormal heart rates and increase blood sugar especially with those that have diabetes (Cold et al., 2017).

Energy Drinks Dangerous

With the availability of energy drinks today, I wanted to warn everyone about the negative effects of it. As everyone should know, energy drinks do give you energy to stay awake throughout the day. It can also be harmful to you in many ways. Some of those ways are inducing anxiety, sleep deprivation, and if you’re pregnant, there is a higher risk of a miscarriage. If you are drinking energy drinks or any type of caffeine any of these could happen.

Informative Speech On Energy Drinks

Energy drinks have no curative benefit, and many components have not been studied deeply and not monitored. The reports of toxicity raise concern for potentially serious unpropitious effects in association with energy drink use. For the temporary period, paediatricians need to be aware of the likely consequences of these beverages on the vulnerable groups and share the adverse effects of its consumption to educate individuals. Long-term research should intend to comprehend the effects in at-risk groups. Toxicity inspection should be enhanced, and ordinances of energy drink sales and consumption should be based on suitable

Energy Drink Persuasive Speech Outline

(Citations, expert) The International Journal of Health Sciences says there are many potential adverse effects of energy drinks in relation to their ingredients such as:

Essay about The Health Danger of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are a kind of refreshments that are advertised as soft drinks that boost energy. The truth is these kinds of drinks are full of many harmful ingredients, such as sugar, stimulants, and other herbal supplements. Energy drinks are targeting high school and college students who may use this kind of drink to keep them awake for a midterm, or even give them a hallucination feeling any other alcoholic beverages will do. Many studies showed the disadvantageous of these drinks, yet this industry has wildfire between underage kids who used it to show their rebellious side through a safe and cheap way. A new study shows that 34% of youth between the ages of eighteen years old and twenty- four years old consume energy drinks regularly

Don’t Excessively Drink Energy Drinks, An Outline

A. Attention material/Credibility Material: Many people drink energy drinks in order to get them through the day, thinking that by getting a boost of energy it will help then, but it hurts you more than you think. How: This year research documented a jump in energy drink related emergency room visits and politicians and consumers called upon the FDA to look into deaths associated with energy drinks. The amount of caffeine added to energy drinks is not regulated by the FDA (http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/06/health/time-energy-drink/)

Energy Drink Should Be Banned Essay

Sylvia Nena (2011) also stated that “Manufactures of these products claim to increase energy, endurance, burn fat and improve athletic performance. According to experts, many of them state that it is untrue that energy drink helps to increase energy. This is due to drugs that can be found in the drinks such as caffeine. Caffeine with high levels of consuming can cause some problems to the human body like palpitations, hypertension, vomiting, convulsions and even worst heart failure which can lead to death. Roland Griffiths (2012) a caffeine specialist said that high caffeine in use by young people can cause a cycle of rushes and crashes that can add “a degree of variance to their moods and psychological well-being that they don’t really need. Joao Breda(2014) from WHO’s Europe wrote that caffeine has a proven negative effect on

The Effects Of Energy Drink Deprivation On Concentration And Perseverance

This study examined the effects of energy drinks on two cognitive abilities- concentration and perseverance. College students were tested on both a concentration task and a perseverance task after one of three levels of energy drink and coffee intake: none, 6 hours, or 12 hours. We predicted that energy drinks would impair both concentration scores and perseverance time. Energy drinks deprivation had no significant effect on concentration scores, which is consistent with recent research on the effects of energy drink deprivations (Green et al., 1995; Green et al., 1997). However, participants in the 6-hour deprivation group spent significantly less time on the perseverance task than those in both the control and 12-hour deprivation groups, suggesting that short-term deprivation may affect some aspects of cognition and not others.

Energy Drinks Speech

Trenier, Theresa. “Energy Drink Dangers.” Newsletters for Mental Health. Milwaukee School of Engineering. January. 2007. <http://www.msoe.edu/life_at_msoe/current_student_resources/student_resources.com>

The Chemistry Of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are soda-like beverages that are chemically designed to boost your energy, performance, and increase stamina. Most of these drinks contain caffeine, sugar and many other ingredients including taurine, guarana, and ginseng. These products are generally marketed toward teanagers, students, athletes, and active people in general. As the popularity of these drinks increases so does the amount of reports they are receiving about the dangers of drinking these caffeinated substances. Energy drinks can be dangerous; therefore knowing the how they work and what is in them is key to consuming such substances safely.

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Energy Drinks Essay Examples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Sugar , Energy , Coffee , Alcohol , Caffeine , Teenagers , Alcoholism , Drinking

Words: 1500

Published: 02/07/2020

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Introduction

A type of beverage consumed to get an instant mental and physical stimulation is referred to as energy drink. Some of the most popular drinks known to give wings to their consumers include Red Bull, Adrenaline Rush, Erektus, Venom and ISO Sprint. In the US, people in quest of quick gratification take to addiction of some form of energy boosters through coffee, tea and highly caffeinated energy drinks. Energy drinks are very popular among young and adults both; especially adolescents and young adults drink the energy beverages at a shocking rate. The easy availability of energy drinks in the market also contributes to its growing popularity and addiction. T. E. Sather states that the advertisement of energy drinks promises that the drinks "will give you a boost of energy"(T. E. Sather) and the energy is delivered through high dosage of concentrated caffeine and other additives. Energy drinks due to its high content of caffeine, sugar and other chemicals have many negative effects which make the need for a solution necessary.

Negative Effects

- The High Content of Caffeine Energy drinks contain a lot of stimulant drugs including caffeine, b vitamins, taurine, glucuronolactone, sugar, artificial sweeteners, inositol, l-carnitine, ginkgo biloba, inositol and ginseng. However, the most alarming is the amount of caffeine used in the drinks. The amount of caffeine used in the energy drinks far outweighs the amount found in tea, coffee and soft drinks like Coca-Cola. Many energy drinks have 2-3 times the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee. Sometimes the energy beverages contain more coffee than mentioned on the labels because many supplements such as kola nut, guaranà and yerba mate used in those beverages carry considerable amount of caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system of our body and narrows the blood vessels passing through the heart and brain. It results in an increase in heart rate. Therefore, caffeine can lead to serious cardiovascular complications if caffeine infused drink is taken regularly. Caffeine also increases the rate of production of urine and hence drinking beverages that contain higher amount of caffeine can cause dehydration too. Too much caffeine can lead to insomnia, palpitations, tremors, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pains and neurologic symptoms, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians (Bill Radford). - Drink Mixing and Accidents Energy drinks are often used as drink mixers. It has turned into a fashion these days to mix energy drinks with alcoholic beverages to derive an extra stimuli. Dr. Yifrah Kaminer who is a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics has expressed his concern for spiking energy drinks with alcohol stating how this combination is likely to increase the number of alcohol-related injuries. Despite the punch of energy drinks, alcohol will still make the similar impact. So one who has drunk a combination of alcohol and energy drinks might feel that his senses are not numbed and he is alert but in reality he is as impaired as a drunk. So he might remain awake and try driving, but owing to drinking alcohol his motor skill will be impaired, increasing the chances of his making accidents. - Addiction in Youngsters Energy drinks are typically very popular among youngsters in the US with 66% of its consumers hovering between 13 - 35 years of age. Energy drinks are addictive especially for youngsters. The primary market of energy drinks is targeted at teens and college goers. They do not know how to moderately consume energy drink. A nutrition consultant and associate professor of biology at the University of Colorado, Jackie Berning states, "I'm appalled at the amount that these young adults are consumingI've seen them show up at an 8 o'clock class popping three Red Bulls so they could make it through the morning" (Bill Radford). The excessive amount of consumption of energy drinks causes high amount of caffeine in the body and the body gets accustomed to high caffeine levels, leading to addiction over time. If energy drinks are taken with alcohol then caffeine prevents the depressing effect of alcohol and allows a person to drink for a longer period of time. For this reason many young people drink alcohol with energy drinks. Since both alcohol and energy drinks are diuretic, the combined effect of them aggravates the state of dehydration. - Weight Gain Energy drinks are conducive to weight gain and obesity because of the excessive amount of sugar and artificial sweeteners used in them. Normal average person who fights to keep calorie count under check might pile on more weight due to the addiction of drinking energy beverages. Energy drinks may serve the same purpose of junk food in adding extra kilos. Most of the time people resort to energy drinks to combat sleep to remain awake through the night and such dose of high calorie content at the dead of night might boost up the weight gain. - Harmful for People with History of Health Problems Energy drinks could be quite detrimental for people with the health history of liver disease, diabetes, cardiovascular complications, seizures, hyperthyroidism, mood and behavioral disorders and renal disease. Though the caffeine content used in soft drinks is regulated by FDA, there is no such regulation on the use of caffeine in energy drinks. Therefore, the consumption of energy drinks may worsen the state of people with epilepsy and seizure history especially if they consume the drink in sleep deprived state. The high amount of sugar present in energy beverages may exacerbate the condition of people suffering from liver or renal disease and diabetes. - Harmful during Pregnancy Energy drinks are harmful for pregnant women. The main ingredients of any energy drink are augar, vitamin, A, C and E, caffeine, guarana, taurine, ginseng, creatine etc. Sugar is required during pregnancy and hence consumption of moderate quantity of sugar from energy drinks will cause no harm. However, energy drinks are not at all recommended for women going through gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Further, the intake of caffeine or guarana of more than 300 mg per day increases the chances of miscarriage significantly (Carolyn Roy-Bornstein). Any typical bottle of energy drink contains at least 200 mg of caffeine and because of the high caffeine content energy drinks should be avoided during pregnancy.

As of now, there are no age restriction or warning labels placed on energy drinks in the US due to which its side effects impact both young and adults. In the wake of some unfortunate incidents resulting in the death of some youngsters allegedly of energy drink consumption, countries like France and Germany have prohibited the sale of certain energy drinks like Red Bull and others. Some countries including Australia and New Zealand have imposed certain regulations on the manufacturing and sale of energy drinks. They have even restricted the amount of caffeine to be used in the energy beverages. Though the energy drink companies market their products as 'dietary supplements, over a time many reports have brought forth the side effects of consuming energy drinks. Therefore, I think in order to arrest the situation it is important to put restriction on its sale and manufacturing. The caffeine amount should be regulated by FDA. Warning labels, consumption guidelines and age limit of minimum 18 years should be placed on the drinks. Further, these caffeinated beverages should be moderated or banned from school vending machines and cafeterias to restrict consumption of caffeine by teenagers.

Energy drinks used as energy boosters by young and old have many side effects. High amount of caffeine used in energy drinks leads to a lot of many health complications. Mixing the drinks with alcohol compounds its side effects and increases the risk of accidents. These drinks being available in the all places with no age restriction has led to its addiction among children and adolescents. The high amount of sugar in these drinks contributes to weight gain. People with history of health problems might have their condition worsen due to drinking this type of beverage. It is also harmful for women during pregnancy. Taking into account the negative effects of the energy drinks it is the need of the hour to impose some restriction on the sale, manufacturing, caffeine content of the drinks. Also an age limit should be placed to keep teens and adolescents out of harm’s way.

Radford, Bill. Negative Energy? ; Drinks deliver caffeine jolt; just don't overdo, The Gazette, Dec 11, 2006. Freedom Newspapers Inc, Colorado Springs, Retrieved on 3rd June 2013 from <http://search.proquest.com/docview/268278579?accountid=1172> Roy-Bornstein, Carolyn. Just Say No to Energy Drinks, Pediatrics for Parents, Inc. Aug 2011. Retrieved on 3rd June 2013 from <http://search.proquest.com/docview/1017696040?accountid=1172> Sather, T E. The Dangers of Energy Drinks and Supplements, Feb 2013. Retrieved on 3rd June 2013 from <http://search.proquest.com/docview/1326330751?accountid=1172> Energy Drinks Busting Your Health for the Buzz, Pennsylvania Medical Society, September 2008. Retrieved on 3rd June 2013 from <http://newswise.com/articles/view/544512/>

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Energy Drink Persuasive Essay

Clayton Reboca Mr. Martinez English Energy Drinks Should Not Be Consumed Finals are coming up and students need a way to stay awake to maintain their energy; in order to maintain their energy through the rest of the semester, they consume energy drinks. Students that need to study for their finals can easily go to the local convenience store and purchase an energy drink to keep their body energized and awake. However, energy drinks are filled with many different types of ingredients, causing the body to react in a multitude of ways. After drinking a few cans they can lead to addiction, and eventually to more serious health consequences. From health issues, it leads to the outcome of the drink causing consumers to make poor choices. Contrary to popular belief, energy drinks are, in fact, unhealthy, and people should not be consuming them because of the massive amounts of caffeine, a harmful substance affecting the human body. Due to the excessive amount of caffeine in energy drinks, they are becoming more addictive to students as well as adults. The caffeine is highly addictive, caused by the unnecessary amount that is provided in energy …show more content…

WC: 1415 Reboca 5 Work Cited - Doyle Group, “Are Energy Drinks bad for Heart Health?” EBSCOhost April 2016 - Shewmake, Michael “Coffee vs Energy Drinks – 5 Reasons Why Coffee Is A Better Choice” http://club.atlascoffeeclub.com/coffee-vs-energy-drinks/ - Treloar, Tidwell, Williams, Buys, Oliver, and Yates “Applying Theory of Planned Behavior to Energy Drink Consumption in Community College Students” Booneville, MS - Smith and Atroch “Guarana ’s Journey from Regional Tonic to Aphrodisiac and Global Energy Drink” Advance Access Publication December 5, 2007 - Bruso, Jessica “Is the Monster Energy Drink better than Soda?” https:// www.livestrong.com/article/448815-is-the-monster-energy-drink-better-than-soda/ - 4 gauge “Are Pre Workouts Better Than Energy Drinks?” https://www.4gauge.com/4g/

Persuasive Essay Over Sugared Soda

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Death Of Andres Moreno Essay

Energy drinks have a lot of sugar, and Andres was a diabetic. Not monitoring how much sugar you intake can cause very high blood pressure and can lead to other serious problems. Not only did Andres not care and got highly addicted to these energy drinks, he didn't know that just because he was exercising and losing weight, these energy drinks made him have an irregular heart beat and that led to a tragic death. Energy drinks are the worst thing to drink before or during a workout. Your heart rate will ride intensely and can cause your heart to beat faster or even stop completely.

Dangerous Or Safe? By Natterson: Summary

In conclusion, the ingredients in energy drinks can not be considered dangerous. Although reports have been made of seizures who have drank high volumes of energy drinks, there is no solid proof that it is because the

Red Smoothie Detox Factor Summary

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Rathe Caffeine Analysis

Although a lot of studies have been done to prove the terrible effects caffeine has on the human body, American citizens still take in a disgusting amount of caffeine every day. Do people today really care so little about themselves, or are they just plain stupid and unaware of the disaster they are wreaking on their own bodies? Caffeine is really just a poison that energizes you for a little while. An argument written in a belligerent style offends readers and causes them to stop reading,

Iga 3 Proposal

Foods in vending machines would be replaced with healthier options, such as AMBO Food’s Omega Cookie, which is rich in Omega-3 and other necessary nutrients. A smoothie bar would be incorporated on campus. People often add foods, which they would not consume otherwise, to their smoothies. A smoothie bar would allow students to customize their smoothies and add foods rich in Omega-3 and are healthy to their

Energy Drinks Experiment

The energy drink increased running pace (Ps conclusions are that the ingestion of 3 mg/kg of caffeine using an energy drink increased the speed of the players and movement patterns during the rugby games. Also, the energy drink had an insignificant side-effect that shows the energy drink was not a health risk to the players, at least with the dosage used in this investigation (Coso et al.,

Orange Juice Vs Electrolytes Essay

Electrolyte Challenge: Sports VS Orange Juice Every year sport drink companies spend millions of dollars on advertising there drink they advertise what the drink can do and how it can help you stay awake during your day but what they advertise the most are the electrolytes they supply to your body. Electrolytes are minerals in your blood that you lose from sweat, they transfer energy through your body regulate fluid balance and transport nutrients they are very important to your health and help you overall with your day. In my project i am experimenting which gives you more of the needed electrolytes that help you stay awake. Sports drink A glance at the beverage aisle in a supermarket shows that sports drinks are growing in popularity

Boost Juice Bar Essay

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Why Do Energy Drinks Have The Same Voltage?

ELECTRIC ENERGY DRINKS Teya Rampaul Grade 9H  INTRODUCTION Energy drinks give us a quick burst of energy when we are feeling tired but which one gives us the most amount of energy? To find out which energy drink would give us the most I am going to test which energy drink has the highest voltage. One of the people I interviewed said that they would like to know which energy drink has the highest voltage. Another person that I questioned said that he doubted energy drinks had any voltage at all.

Compare And Contrast Coffee And Energy Drinks

Coffee vs energy drinks, who will win? People drink coffee and energy drinks because they wake you up and they get you ready for the day. Most energy drinks hold 8.4 ounces. On the other hand, coffee has 8 ounces. On the healthier side, coffee only has 1 calorie for 8 ounces while energy drinks have 110 calories for 8.4 ounces.

Argumentative Essay On Caffeine

Caffeine is a chemical found naturally in few plants all over the world. From these plants it is processed into its pure form and then put into other things such as soda, energy drinks, tea, and pills. Energy drinks and soda are some of the most widely marketed products in the world, even though they contain the highest concentration of caffeine outside of pure caffeine supplements. It is a stimulant that affects everyone in strange but semi predictable ways. Research has been done on this topic since the 1920’s and many different conclusions have been reached.

Argumentative Essay On Energy Drinks

With the constantly increasing paces of everyday life the search for an energy source, capable of boosting the human body to new limits by extending its endurance, continues. In the recent years a specific product, called an energy drink, has received much publicity worldwide. The energy drink is a highly caffeinated stimulant that is able to rise the performance of the human body. Many people consider it as a refreshment after a hard day’s work. What’s more one of the most frequently used cases of energy drinks is in combination with alcohol during parties.

Essay On Energy Drinks

In today 's society, if we appear to be exhausted, while knowing that we have to be on the run, we turn ourselves to energy drinks. Little do we know that every time we consume a single sip of an energy drink, we are literally creating a crucial complication towards our body. The innumerable quantities of caffeine and sugar that we devour stimulates each and every part of the body. Individuals have been replacing protein bars and other athletic beverages for real food (McCarthy). Becoming addicted to energy drinks relates to type 2 diabetes, even long-term effects such as heart issues, but most of all death.

Persuasive Essay: The Benefits Of Drinking Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. In fact, it is estimated that every year, more than 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed all across the world. For many, it is the choice of drink early in the morning before work while for others it is the drink of choice when they want to burn the midnight oil. Well, whatever the case, there are many benefits in drinking coffee and some are quite shocking and unexpected too! 1.

More about Energy Drink Persuasive Essay

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The implications of alcohol mixed with energy drinks from medical and socio-legal standpoints

Co-ingestion of energy drinks and alcohol has long been in practice and has been poorly regulated despite a growing body of literature of their potential negative health impacts. Co-ingestion of energy drinks with alcohol has multiple counter-active effects such as reduction of body sway, fatigue and sedative effects induced by alcohol, along with increased subjective feeling of alertness, which may lead to increased binge-drinking, intoxication, decreased perception of intoxication, dehydration, and alcohol poisoning. Adding energy drinks to alcohol may also have synergistic effects in causing alcohol dependency and addiction. The association between caffeine, a common active ingredient in energy drinks, and alcohol is relatively well defined, however association with other active ingredients such as taurine, niacin, and pyridoxine, is less understood, pointing to a gap in our knowledge regarding this practice. Nonetheless, the current associations between AMED (Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks) and risky behavior secondary to intoxication and cases of alcohol poisoning have led various national governing bodies to regulate this practice. This review highlights the potential effects of AMED on human physiology based on what is known from human and animal models, and sheds light on specific biochemical interactions between alcohol and active ingredients found in energy drinks; Caffeine, Taurine, and Glucuronolactone. The review also touches on the regulation of this practice around the world, and the impact it has on its users, and points researchers to gaps in our knowledge on the interactions between alcohol and EDs and the full extent of their effects.

Introduction

Alcohol mixed with energy drinks; epidemiology.

The co-ingestion of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AMED) is a very common practice worldwide, particularly prominent in the younger population where studies from the United States (US) revealed 10.6% of students in grades 8, 10, and 12, and 31.8% of young adults aged 19–28 had consumed AMED at least once in the past year ( Kponee et al., 2014 ; Johnson et al., 2018 ; Schulenberg et al., 2018 ). A study surveying college students in the US regarding patterns of energy drink (ED) use found the consumption of AMED was reported by 57% of women and 50% of men ( Malinauskas et al., 2007 ). Another survey of 450 medical students in Italy, 56.9% reported ED consumption of which 48.4% mixed EDs with alcohol; 36% of those who reported ever combining ED and alcohol had done so on more than three occasions in the previous month ( Oteri et al., 2007 ). Similar figures have been found in research investigating the frequency of ED usage among college students in Turkey, where 37.2% reported mixing EDs with alcohol ( Attila and Çakir, 2011 ). Although unclear why young drinkers are driven to consume AMEDs, some literature suggests consumption during parties, taste enhancement of alcohol, and energy and pleasure seeking behaviors are some motivators ( Ballistreri and Corradi-Webster, 2008 ; O’Brien et al., 2008 ). Regardless of the motives, this phenomenon of mixing energy drinks with alcohol is quite prevalent in today’s society, although unclear if the consumption patterns have increased over time. It is thus important to establish their combinatorial effects and potential implications–which are vital to understand from both medical and sociolegal perspectives–such as drinking habits among users, addiction, binge-drinking, alcohol poisoning, and general wellbeing. This review aims to highlight the aforementioned literature on AMED, while also shedding light on specific interactions between alcohol and active ingredients found in EDs, the impact it has on human physiology and safety, and existing regulations on EDs in different parts of the world.

Biochemical interactions between alcohol and active ingredients in energy drinks

Alcohol is known to potentiate GABAergic neurotransmission by increasing GABA release ( Kumar et al., 2009 ; Woodward, 2009 ). In addition, alcohol inhibits glutamatergic neurotransmission by acting on ionotropic glutamate receptors ( Siggins et al., 2003 ; Woodward, 2009 ). Alcohol also modulates dopamine neurotransmission by directly altering the activity of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) ( Morikawa and Morrisett, 2010 ). It is widely believed that alcohol-induced increase in VTA neuronal activity leads to increased dopamine release which mediates the reinforcing euphoric effects of alcohol ( Gonzales et al., 2004 ; Tupala and Tiihonen, 2004 ). This mechanism may be affected by active ingredients found in EDs.

Caffeine-alcohol interactions

The most common ingredient in EDs is caffeine, which is often combined with taurine, glucuronolactone, and B vitamins such as niacin, and pyridoxine ( Reissig et al., 2009 ). Caffeine is a non-selective competitive antagonist at the adenosine receptor and produces its effects by counteracting the effects of endogenous adenosine ( O’Brien, 2009 ). Adenosine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that increases sedation and contributes to sleep under normal conditions, hence these inhibitory effects of caffeine induces wakefulness. This interaction relies on the ability of adenosine to modulate the function of central ascending neurotransmitter systems, which are involved in motor activation and reward dopaminergic systems and arousal effects through cholinergic, noradrenergic, histaminergic, and orexinergic systems. Among the four A 1 , A 2A , A 2B , and A 3 adenosine receptors, A 1 and A 2A receptors are the ones predominantly expressed in the brain and are the primary target receptors for caffeine ( Fredholm et al., 1999 ; Ferré, 2010 ; Juliano et al., 2014 ). The arousing effects of caffeine depend on the inhibition of multiple inhibitory mechanisms that adenosine exerts on ( Ferré, 2010 ). As dopamine activity is involved in the reward system, elevated dopamine levels play a key role in the abuse potential of most drugs of abuse, including alcohol. The activation of adenosine receptors inhibits dopamine activity through proposed mechanisms including A 2A /D2 and A 1 /D1 receptor-receptor interaction ( Ferré et al., 2008 ; Ferré, 2010 ) and modulation of dopamine binding affinity ( Franco et al., 2000 ), therefore caffeine indirectly increases dopamine activity. Because caffeine acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist, it blocks adenosine activity, resulting in increased dopamine activity ( Nagy et al., 1990 ; Garrett and Griffiths, 1997 ; Yao et al., 2002 ). These biochemical interactions create the basis of the claim that AMED may be dangerous because the stimulant effects of caffeine counteract the sedative effects of alcohol, giving users a false feeling of sobriety thus increasing alcohol consumption and encouraging risk-taking behavior (such as driving under the influence of alcohol). The increased dopamine also stimulates the brain reward system when alcohol is mixed with it, thus the striatal A 2A –D 2 receptor interactions provide an important pathway by which caffeine can potentiate the reinforcing euphoric effects of alcohol.

The role of adenosine antagonism on voluntary ethanol intake was explored in literature examining the effect of different caffeine doses and selective adenosine A 1 and A 2A receptor antagonists in mice. This study found caffeine between doses of 2.5–20.0 mg/kg to significantly increase ethanol consumption in moderate ethanol consumers, however no effects were observed in low or high ethanol consumers ( SanMiguel et al., 2019 ).

A preclinical study that assessed the effect of pre-treatment with caffeine on voluntary ethanol consumption in rodents found low and high caffeine doses to have no effect on ethanol consumption but moderate doses of 5 mg/kg to increase ethanol intake ( Kunin et al., 2000 ). A second animal study assessing if caffeine would enhance ethanol-conditioned place preference and enhance ethanol-stimulated locomotor activity found higher doses of caffeine to result in statistically significant increase in locomotion, however, at higher doses of alcohol this is decreased. No significant findings were found in terms of place preference ( Hilbert et al., 2013 ). One trial assessing the interaction between caffeine and ethanol to assess if caffeine can affect the ability of ethanol to elicit conditioned place preference and conditioned place aversion, found caffeine to not have an effect on its own, while ethanol elicited significant conditioned-place preference and aversion. Caffeine significantly prevented ethanol-elicited conditioned-place preference and, also prevented the acquisition of ethanol-elicited conditioned-place aversion ( Porru et al., 2020 ).

Increased drinking with EDs may be explained through the A 2A receptor mechanism wherein activation of the A 2A receptor decreases alcohol consumption ( Houchi et al., 2008 ) and caffeine is known to inhibit this receptor, therefore potentially attributing to increased alcohol intake ( Ferré, 2010 ).

Alcohol mixed with energy drinks has been shown to increase binge-drinking in some animal studies due to interactions between shared receptors and proposed that such interaction may have a dose dependent relationship ( SanMiguel et al., 2019 ). However this does not mean the same is also applicable to humans.

In another instance of a study looking at the interaction of caffeine on the effects of alcohol on conditioned taste aversion, ataxia, and locomotor activity in mice found that the combination of caffeine and alcohol produced robust locomotor sensitization. After repeated exposure, the effect of the drug combination on activity was approximately 2.5 times greater than either that produced by alcohol or caffeine alone. The authors conclude that co-intoxication with caffeine and alcohol has a possible synergistic effect on locomotor sensitization rather than an additive one. The study revealed that previous caffeine exposure increased the ataxic response to the caffeine and alcohol combination, however, seemed to reduce the ataxic response to high doses of alcohol. The artical failed to show any effect on conditioned taste aversion ( Christina et al., 2015 ). An additional study looking at how ED affects the expression of ethanol sensitization in mice indicated that an alcohol sensitization effect could be enhanced in mice when acutely challenged with a mixture of an ED and alcohol ( Ferreira et al., 2013 ). In summary, these animal model studies indicate that a history of exposure to the combination of alcohol and energy drinks may influence the locomotor response when subjects are acutely challenged ( Ulenius et al., 2019 ).

Taurine-alcohol interactions

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid and is the most abundant intracellular amino acid in humans ( Gaull, 1989 ). It helps with skeletal muscle contractile function and attenuates exercise-induced DNA damage. Taurine also has other biological and physiologic functions; antiarrhythmic, inotropic, and chronotropic effects; central nervous system neuromodulation; endocrine or metabolic effects; and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties ( Lourenço and Camilo, 2002 ; Juliano et al., 2014 ). Some studies have found that taurine is released from the nucleus accumbens following alcohol exposure and potentially plays a role in increasing extracellular dopamine levels in nucleus accumbens ( Ericson et al., 2006 , 2011 ). Elevated extracellular taurine levels may also be required for alcohol to induce dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens ( Ericson et al., 2011 ). A study looking at the effect of taurine on alcohol-induced sleep time in mice found taurine to enhance the depressant effects of alcohol, suggesting an interaction between taurine and alcohol on the central nervous system ( Ferko and Bobyock, 1988 ). Taurine may also influence some of the adverse effects of alcohol as shown by one controlled trial where pre-treatment with taurine reduced ethanol-induced increases of acetaldehyde in the blood and liver of rats ( Watanabe et al., 1985 ). If this were the same in humans, it could be speculated that mixing EDs with alcohol means decreased hangovers with the same level of alcohol consumption. However, an opposing view is that the level of taurine and B vitamins (such as niacin) found in popular EDs are far below the amounts expected to deliver either therapeutic benefits or adverse effects ( Clauson et al., 2008 ). A study exploring taurine and caffeine’s effect on ethanol-induced locomotion in mice failed to report any impact of acute administration of taurine on locomotion ( Ulenius et al., 2019 ). The study does highlight an interesting finding where at particular dose combinations, co-administration of caffeine and taurine increased ethanol-induced locomotion to a greater extent than any drug administered alone or in combination ( Ulenius et al., 2019 ). This contrasts with one previous study showing a dose-dependent relationship where taurine decreased ethanol-induced locomotion at low doses of ethanol but increased it at higher doses of ethanol ( Aragon et al., 1992 ). This is still an area that is not sufficiently studied to make either claim and we hope future experimental research can try to build on this. However, despite the discrepancies, one can conclude that taurine may have subtle effects on ethanol-induced locomotion.

Glucuronolactone-alcohol interactions

Although glucuronolactone is one of the common ingredients in EDs, little to no research has been done on its health impacts in human or animal models. Additionally, there is no available literature on its interaction with alcohol, which is surely an area of interest. This was reiterated in studies published as early as 2010 ( Higgins et al., 2010 ). Yet, over a decade later, no advancements have been made to try to understand this potentially harmful interaction. Despite many of these studies having been conducted on animal models and not replicated in humans, there is still concern over their effects on humans, even if not in identical mechanisms to that of the animal models.

Potential adverse effects of alcohol mixed with energy drink and impact on safety and alcohol dependence

After briefly discussing the biochemistry that forms the basis of these interactions, we can begin to understand the effects they may have and their impact in humans, especially their most frequent users.

In addition to AMED being common practice in more than half of college students by some estimates ( Malinauskas et al., 2007 ), it is also more common in binge drinkers compared to occasional consumers of alcohol. A survey on Michigan high school students in the US found binge drinkers; defined as drinkers who reported consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in a row during the 30 days before survey administration, to be more than twice as likely to mix alcohol with EDs when compared to non-binge drinkers (49.0 vs. 18.2%, p < 0.001) ( Gonzales et al., 2015 ).

The reverse is also true, as frequent consumers of EDs are also more likely to consume more alcohol, and also at an earlier age. One study exploring the associations between caffeinated energy drink usage, alcohol-use patterns, and alcohol-related consequences in college students in the US, found that when compared to occasional ED consumers, weekly or daily ED consumers were more likely to have gotten drunk at an earlier age ( Arria et al., 2011 ). High-frequency ED users were also found to consume alcohol more frequently and in higher quantities, and were twice as likely to be alcohol dependent than those who infrequently consume them ( American Psychiatric Association, 2000 ). Another study also found that college students in the UK drank more alcohol on occasions when they also consumed EDs (8.6 drinks vs. 4.6 drinks; p = 0.016) ( Price et al., 2010 ). This raises concerns over the lack of regulation over EDs which can potentiate dangerous interactions and propagate alcohol dependencies and binge-drinking given the existing moderate correlation. In addition to more frequent drinking, drinkers aged 15–23 who mix alcohol with EDs are also four times more likely to binge drink at high intensity when compared to drinkers who do not mix alcohol with EDs ( Emond et al., 2014 ).

The effects of AMED can also have dangerous consequences wherein one health report studying the demographics of AMED in New South Wales, Australia found 39 poison center calls related to AMED recorded at NSWPIC (New South Wales State-Wide Poisons Information Centre). Over a 6 year period, there were 657 presentations related to AMED use across 59 emergency departments in NSW. The number of calls relating to AMED use were split evenly by gender and the majority involved adolescents and young adults. Over two thirds of poison center calls involved the co-ingestion of AMEDs with other substances as well ( Lubman et al., 2013 ).

Literature has further highlighted the effects of AMED on binge-drinking where a measurement-burst design study looked at the short term consequences of AMED compared with consuming alcohol alone and found that AMED was associated with an increase in the number of alcoholic drinks consumed, more hours spent drinking, elevated blood alcohol content, and a higher probability of subjective intoxication ( Patrick and Maggs, 2014 ).

Alcohol mixed with energy drinks is also associated with high risk sexual behavior and illicit substance use. A comparative study in the US looking at this association among young adults found AMED consumers to be significantly more likely to report marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy use. They had higher odds of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors such as unprotected sex, sex while under the influence of drugs, and sex after having too much to drink. This relationship remained significant after accounting for demographic factors and other substance use ( Snipes and Benotsch, 2013 ).

A survey done in Canada that looked at whether youth who use AMED were more likely to engage in driving, or being a passenger of a driver under the influence of alcohol or cannabis compared to youth who use either alcohol or energy drinks alone, found youth who use AMED demonstrated a higher risk profile for driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis than youth who use alcohol alone ( Wilson et al., 2018 ). Additionally, alcohol and EDs both act as diuretics causing dehydration. Several deaths have been associated with ED consumption after sport as a consequence of dehydration ( Finnegan, 2003 ). This poses serious concern, particularly in the younger population, where individuals are more physically active. Increased dehydration may also exacerbate the effects of a hangover, and lead to greater impairment the day after consumption ( Finnegan, 2003 ). Isolated reports of death due to AMED have also been reported ( Scimex, 2018 ).

The links, of varying strengths, between AMED and binge-drinking, high frequency and quantity drinking, earlier age of drinking and alcohol poisoning, and death, while may be of varying strength, are concerning enough to demand attention and stress the need to address and regulate this practice.

Regulation of alcohol mixed with energy drinks around the world

We have explored the possible links, of varying strengths, between AMED and binge-drinking, high frequency and quantity drinking, earlier age of drinking and alcohol poisoning. While these may simply be correlations, they are concerning enough to demand attention.

In the early 2000s, beverages that combined alcohol, caffeine, and other stimulants, also known as caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) were very popular ( Federal Trade Commission, 2022 ; US Food and Drug Administration, 2022 ) but due to reported activities of alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, unprotected sexual intercourse and alcohol related injuries, the food and drug association (FDA) issued a notice requiring companies to remove CABs from the market in 2010. Standard alcohol and on-the-shelf caffeinated drinks do, however, remain available for individuals to mix, and regulations on EDs specifically are quite limited. The FDA lists caffeine, the primary ingredient in EDs, as “generally recognized as safe” when used in carbonated drinks at a certain level. Interestingly, this does not apply to EDs. The FDA has placed no restrictions on an upper caffeine limit in EDs whatsoever, meaning companies have no limitations over the caffeine content of their beverages and this is very concerning, given the potential for misuse ( Heckman et al., 2010 ). Additionally, regulations in the US state that caffeine, along with any other ingredient, must be listed on the product label if added as an ingredient, however, the exact actual amount of caffeine, or any other ingredient, does not need to be listed on the label ( Heckman et al., 2010 ).

Other regulatory bodies such as the Australia New Zealand Food Authority have a distinct category of beverages called “formulated caffeinated beverages” which must contain no less than 145 mg/L and no more than 320 mg/L of caffeine, which includes all caffeine present, regardless of the source ( Heckman et al., 2010 ). Restrictions also exist for the amount of taurine and glucuronolactone permitted in EDs. The only regulation on the supply of AMEDs in Australia, is in Perth, Western Australia, where venues are prohibited from selling AMEDs after midnight, but this policy is undermined by the continued sale of EDs in the same venues after midnight ( UK Wired, 2010 ). The European Union on the other hand, has not set an upper limit for caffeine content; however, if the beverage contains more than 150 mg/L, the product label must read “high caffeine content” followed by the amount of caffeine ( Heckman et al., 2010 ; Lubman et al., 2013 ). In the UK, regulations are yet to be implemented. A proposed ban was resisted by Scotland in 2005 ( UK Wired, 2010 ).

There is some progression in the regulation of this practice over the last few years. Regulatory authorities in Canada restrict the manufacture and sale of CAB unless the caffeine is derived from a natural source such as guarana, however, caffeine as an ingredient cannot be directly added to an alcoholic drink ( UK Wired, 2010 ). The authorities have also recently reduced the amount of caffeine in EDs (no more than 400 mg of caffeine per liter or 180 mg per single serve) and EDs are now required to display the following warning labels: “do not mix with alcohol,” “high source of caffeine,” and “not recommended for children, pregnant/breastfeeding women, individuals sensitive to caffeine,” In Mexico, regulatory bodies have prohibited the sale of AMEDs in licensed venues ( Lubman et al., 2013 ).

This review sheds light on the effects AMED can have from various perspectives. These include, but are not limited to, binge-drinking, more frequent and higher quantity consumption, younger age at drinking, alcohol poisoning, more negative after-effects, as well as engaging in risky sexual behavior and illicit substance use. The active ingredients in EDs contribute significantly and are part of the mechanism by which these effects are significantly increased in those mixing EDs with alcohol compared to those consuming alcohol alone, although there remain uncertainties on the evidence surrounding the exact mechanisms underlying interactions between alcohol and energy drink constituents. Further human studies of the interaction between alcohol and caffeine are needed to confirm the findings of animal models, while both animal and human studies are lacking for other ED ingredients.

However, in spite of these uncertainties on interactions, there is still a body of evidence suggestive of risky behaviors and harmful effects in people who consume AMED, underlining the public health need for regulation of the widespread global consumption of these. Further research in this area would be beneficial and aid regulatory bodies in the making of guidelines regarding the use and effects of AMED in years to come.

Author contributions

JS, JP, and HC: literature review, writing, editing, and revision of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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