UC Davis

Energy drinks are beverages marketed to quickly increase alertness and performance of the consumer that typically contain relatively high quantities of caffeine, simple carbohydrates, and a mixture of additional ingredients. The carbohydrate sources, usually glucose and sucrose, found in the beverages supply the substrates needed for physiological energy, while the high caffeine content supplies the perceived energy through enhancing feelings of alertness during fatigued states. Although mean youth caffeine consumption as a whole has decreased over the past 2 decades, adolescent energy drink consumption has significantly increased in the past 10 years. High energy drink consumption of youth is concerning due to the range of reported adverse reactions attributed to excessive caffeine consumption, ranging from mild sleep disturbances to death. Reactions are severe enough to require reporting to the National Poison Data System and may even require emergency medical treatment. Studies have also shown that adolescents who consume energy drinks are likely to also use tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs. There is substantial evidence to suggest that the risk energy drinks pose to health are incredibly hazardous and should not be consumed by children and adolescents.