Energy drinks contain high levels of sugar and little nutritional value just like soft drinks. For instance, every 250 ml can of Red Bull drink comprises of approximately five teaspoons of sugar. The most significant difference that exists between energy drinks and soft drinks is the substantial amount of doses of caffeine contained in energy drinks. Every 500 ml of every energy drink has approximatively 160-300mg of caffeine. This is too high because a cup of tea contains 20-60mg of caffeine while a cup of coffee contains 40-80mg of caffeine. A tablet of No-Dose contains 100mg of caffeine and also comes with a warning label. Additionally, some energy drink brands contain other additives like taurine, ginseng, B vitamins and ephedrine. While energy drinks may assist youngsters when they need higher energy levels, this benefit is undermined by the negative effects associated with regular consumption, of which the most important are increased health risks, addiction, and risk taking behavior.
The implications associated with energy drinks consumption by the youth are varied. The health risks associated with energy drinks are serious. In France, an eighteen year old athlete lost his consciousness while on the court playing basketball. He had reportedly consumed 4 Red Bull cans just before match. As a result, the government imposed a ban on the drink. High content of caffeine is the major concern about energy drinks. When caffeine is consumed in high contents as it is present in energy drinks, adverse effects are likely to follow. Some of these effects include insomnia, nervousness, diarrhea, headache, rapid heart attack, hypertension, anxiety and psychological dependence on caffeine. In her book Sevo expalins that the “Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits caffeine content in soft drinks, which are categorized as food, there is no such regulation of energy drinks, which are classified as dietary supplements” (89). Many teenagers have exhibited one or a combination of these effects. They have been reported to show poor concentration while in class in addition to their disruptive behaviors. Some other teenagers have also ended up in emergency wards of hospitals with palpitations of the heart. There have also been emerging new trends of energy drinks combination with alcohol. An alcoholism and clinical experimental research study carried out in April 2006 found out that caffeine is detrimental when added to alcohol. It causes alcohol users to feel less drunk and yet their visual reaction time and coordination remained similarly impaired as the effects of alcohol. Therefore combining alcohol drinks with energy drinks could lead to increased night violence associated with drunkenness (Marks 30).
Energy drinks contain high contents of kilojoules just like soft drinks. Consequently, they can lead to excessive weight gain problems. Teens who usually partake in sedentary activities like playing computer games until very late sometimes resort to energy drinks so as to keep them awake for so long. Additionally, energy drinks are also associated with high contents of sugar and this leads to erosion of the teeth. When compared with other fizzy drinks, energy drinks contain higher acid levels. Acid is more dangerous than bacteria that only cause decay. Acids have the potential to damage the surface of the enamel of the teeth and subsequently cause dental erosion (Corbin et al. 78). Although caffeine is not so much used as an ingredient, some of the top selling energy drinks have higher levels ranging from 154 to 280mg in every can. The law requires the average levels of caffeine in tea and coffee to be a maximum of 65mg per cup. It is, however, recommended that only a maximum of 300 mg of caffeine should be consumed in a day by children and reproductive aged women. Children who consume 120-145mg of caffeine daily have also been observed to demonstrate some withdrawal symptoms over a period of two weeks ( Meltzer and Ministerråd 49). In athletes, heavy caffeine consumption has cardiovascular effects that can be fatal. The high levels of caffeine have also diuretic effects that could cause dehydration in athletes especially those who fail to consume plenty of water and fluids as compensation. Studies on depressed youths showed that they use more caffeine as compared to non-depressed youths.
Another negative effect of energy drinks is that they cause addiction. Addiction to energy drinks is not yet well-documented, but it may be more harmful and more difficult to overcome, than addiction to coffee. As shown by Katzman, “like most substances that have a potential for addiction, caffeine acts as a self-enforcer” (45). This means that by using it, people are more likely to want to use it again, regardless of whether the effects were positive or negative (Katzman 45). The case of a young man’s collapse in England demonstrates the reality of energy drink addiction. Twenty-eight-year-old Martin Bowling used to drink as much as 8 cans of energy drink per day. His seven-year dependency caused him to collapse in a pub after drinking several cans. Medics found that he had suffered a heart attack as a result of the high caffeine levels in his organism (Wheatstone). Wheatstone quotes Bowling as saying, “Even when doctors told me high caffeine levels were the cause, I still wanted a can. It was ridiculous.” This shows that the patient was strongly addicted to the drink, and could not give it up, even if it endangered him. Habitual caffeine consumption users have withdrawal symptoms such as dulled cognition and headache (Katzman 45). The signs of withdrawal can emerge 12 to 24 hours after the last energy drink can and can last up to 1 week. Additionally, caffeine has impacts on the future preferences of beverages and food by acting on the development on the addiction and brain reward center of teenagers. However, this might be a gender specific effect. Caffeine soda is apparently more reinforcing on boys than girls. Despite all these observations, energy drinks are still marketed to directly appeal to the youths and teenagers.
Energy drinks can enhance the risk-taking behavior in youngsters, which can endanger their safety in various ways. The enhancement of risk-taking behavior is related to the feeling of energy that one has after consuming the product, but also to the images promoted by the media. Energy drink advertisements often include extreme sports, and feature models of hyper-masculinity. “A considerable amount of the advertising of energy drinks is geared toward young males with the suggestion that the beverages will enhance strength, vigor and virility. Recent researchsuggests a relationship between drinking energy drinks and “toxic jock behavior”, characterized by hypermasculine attitudes and excessive risk-taking” (Maisto, Galizio and Connors 184). Youngsters who watch these advertisements drink the beverages in order to adhere to the contemporary masculine culture, and the effects of the high caffeine content make them feel almost invincible. Young people who consume energy drinks are more likely not to use a seat belt, to participate in extreme sports, or to do something dangerous after being dared by a friend (Maisto, Galizio and Connors 184). Other researchers also found a connection between energy drinks and increased risk-taking behavior. Levesque (367) found that regular energy drink consumption increased risk taking behavior in college students. Peer influence may also explain this tendency among college students. Energy drink consumption is associated in several studies with increased smoking, drinking, drug use, fights and risky sexual behavior (Levesque 367). After drinking these caffeine based beverages, teenagers seem more likely to behave recklessly both because they have energy boosts, and because they feel invincible, as the persons featured in energy drink advertisements.
On the other hand, energy drinks can be instrumental in the life of an individual. Energy drinks have been associated with successful performances in sports and athletics. A teenager who regularly consumes energy drinks get through the day very well. He or she is happy and stress free and this can generate positivity and more productivity. Some of the ingredients found in energy drinks like caffeine and guarana have positive stimulating effects on users. Caffeine can increase exercise performance. Studies show that “there’s good evidence that caffeine enhances performance for most types of endurance, power and strength activities. It does not enhance weight loss, but may delay fatigue and improve mental sharpness” (Bean 42). Therefore, caffeine does have a positive effect on the consumers. This shows that energy drinks may reach their purpose and be effective from this point of view. Additionally, Gurana is an herbal ingredient that is extracted from plants and contains caffeine. Soon after consuming these energy drinks, teenagers demonstrate mental alertness and enhanced concentration in whatever they undertake to do. This state of allertness has a positive effect on for productivity. Guarana is known to increase energy, promote the loss of weight loss and enhance physical performance. As a result, users of energy drinks can keep fit and escape lifestyle diseases. Energy drinks are known to boost energy. It provides the necessary energy for doing things quickly so one can easily meet deadlines. One can lend a hand to finish things more quickly. At times of need, a person can find help in energy drinks for energy boosting and sharpening alertness. This is especially useful during the afternoons when concentration levels are low. Additionally, energy drinks also maximizes a workout. The drinks are used by athletes for maximizing their training and workouts. “Gurana is marketed as a performance-enhancing stimulant as well as an ingredient in pre-workout supplements, energy drinks and weight loss products” (Bean 80). The drinks also help in pushing physical parameters to extremes and so a person can work out for longer hours even in the absence of an energy drink. They also ensure convenience since they are highly accessible for energy level increase. It is more convenient to take an energy drink rather than waiting for coffee to brew. Besides, it is faster than rejuvenating through taking a nap.
While these benefits are important, energy drinks are still dangerous and should not be consumed by teenagers (Wheatstone). The consumption of so much caffeine by teenagers can be extremely dangerous, and the children and their parents may not even realize what causes the symptoms that might affect them. For example, Zedaghat-Yazdi and Koenig show that “a recent study showed that the most common adverse symptom reported with consumption of energy drinks was palpitations. Even small amounts of caffeine can induce tachycardia” (73). Consequently, teenagers may experience palpitations and not even realize that energy drinks are the cause of this problem. Furthermore, the content of caffeine in energy drinks may be higher than the one stated on the label, due to the fact that the producers are not required to state the level of caffeine contained in natural ingredients, such as gurana (Johnson). Consequently, teenagers and young children may be consuming dangerous amounts of caffeine without knowing it. In sensitive individuals, 250 mg of caffeine is enough to cause an overdose (Johnson).Manufacturers know that caffeine is addictive so they load the doses with as much caffeine as possible in order to create an addicted consumer who will require the product as often as possible (Johnson). Youngsters may be the most vulnerable category from this point of view, because their bodies are not used to the high levels of caffeine. Teenagers should be educated to replace energy drinks with more natural solutions in order to have high levels of energy throughout the day, like eating fruit, and whole-grain cereals, and getting enough sleep during the night.
Energy drinks are extremely dangerous, particularly for teenagers, whose organisms and minds are vulnerable. Energy drinks may cause countless health problems, from cardiac conditions to teeth decay. They can cause addictions and overdoses, which can endanger teenagers’ lives. Furthermore, energy drinks can determine teenagers to feel invincible, and to engage in dangerous activities. While energy drinks do cause some short-term positive effects by creating an energy boost for the consumer, the high risks associated with these drinks do not justify the temporary energy increase that energy drinks are able to provide. There are healthier ways in which teenagers can keep their energy levels high throughout the day, and a healthy teenager should not even need energy drinks. Adults can be on the forefront of educating their teenagers on the implications and consequences of energy drinks. Focusing more on the dangers of energy drinks, which are largely unknown by most consumers, can help teenagers to make healthier choices, and protect them from the harms of these drinks on the long term.
Work Cited
Bean, Anita. Sports Supplements: Which Nutritional Supplements Really Work? New York: Bloomsbury, 2015. Print.
Corbin, Charles B, et al. Health opportunities through physical education. Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics, 2014. Print.
Johnson, Scott. The Doctor’s Guide to Surviving When Modern Medicine Fails. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2015. Print.
Katzman, Gary. “The Ins and Outs of Caffeine”. The Addiction Casebook. Eds. Petros Levounis and Abigail Herron. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 2014. Print.
Levesque, Roger. “Caffeine Use”. Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Ed. Roger Levesque. New York: Springer, 2011. Print.
Maisto, Stephen, Galizio, Mark and Connors, Gerard. Drug Use and Abuse. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2015. Print.
Marks, Ray. Health literacy and school-based health education. Bingley, UK : Emerald, 2012. Print.
Meltzer, Helle Margrete and Nordisk Ministerråd. Risk assessment of caffeine among children and adolescents in the Nordic countries. Kbh.: Nordisk Ministerråd : Nordisk Råd, 2008. Print.
Miller, Peter M. Principles of addiction. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 2013. Print.
Sevo, Margot De. Pediatric nursing : content review plus practice questions. Philadelphia, PA : F.A. Davis Company, 2015. Print.
Wheatstone, Richard. “Energy Drink Addict Almost Died of Heart Attack After Downing Eight Cans of Coffeine-Laced Beverage”. Mirror, 2015. Web.
Zedaghat-Yazdi, Farshad and Koenig, Peter. “The Teenager with Palpitations”. The Adolescent with Cardiac Issues. Eds. Pooja Gupta, Richard Humes and Bonita Stanton. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. 61.1(2014):63-81.
