Cherie Gough
What’s the BUZZ: Are energy drinks safe for kids? Perhaps you saw in the news recently
that Panera has been charged with two deaths associated with a drink on their menu called Charged Lemonade. While there were likely special circumstances in those cases, it is, understandably, raising questions (again) about the safety of energy drinks. It’s important to understand that energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine and, depending on age, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) either recommends no caffeine at all or a very limited amount. Read on for details.
What’s all the buzz about? According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), energy drinks are obviously meant to increase energy, but also claim to enhance mental alertness and physical performance. Marketing of the $85 billion (in 2021) global energy drink industry and widespread availability are partly to blame. Companies often report they
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don’t market to youth, but catchy slogans, attractive packaging and ads that feature top-performing athletes say otherwise. It’s no wonder that youth consume energy drinks with the hope of improved health, productivity and performance. Partnering with fast food restaurants means easy access at the drive-thru (Sonic and Jack in the Box). “Since the drinks are widely available, they seem perfectly acceptable,” says Nicole Cruz, a registered dietitian. “The advertising is hypocritical and dangerous.” Cruz also points out the pressure young people feel to achieve in academics and extracurricular activities in order to be accepted into college.
Are energy drinks safe? The safety of energy drinks depends on age, personal health and the amount of caffeine consumed. • The Food and Drug Administration says healthy adults can safely consume 400 mg of caffeine a day.
• The AAP strongly discourages any caffeine consumption for kids under the age of 12, citing concerns about the effects on developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems and the risk of physical dependence. • The AAP says adolescents ages 12–18 should limit caffeine intake to less than 100 mg daily. Cruz is concerned that there is easy access to an unregulated substance for such a susceptible group (young people who are coming into themselves and trying to achieve under pressure). “The decision-making part of their brains are still developing, and the effects are detrimental,” she says. She’s not alone in her concern. Other experts agree that energy drinks and youth are a bad combination. Some concerns include anxiety, hyperactivity, inattention, increased risk of weight gain, cavities, diabetes, poor sleep and heart health.
