Energy Drinks: More Harm Than Good?

Young people rely on caffeine to stay awake during long hours of studying or to boost exercise performance. Medical professionals and students alike worry that energy drinks can have adverse effects on college students and teens. 

“It’s very rare but [high amounts of caffeine] can cause sudden death in certain people,” said Dr. Waheeb Ahmad, an internal medicine physician at Froedtert Menomonee Falls and West Bend Hospitals. 

Deaths from large amounts of caffeine consumption are not new.  The family of Larissa Nicole Rodriguez, a 17-year-old who died from an enlarged heart from drinking too much caffeine, is suing Alani Nu for lack of a warning label on their products about the high caffeine content, according to NBC News.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than 400 mg a day of caffeine for most adults. However the FDA does state that this amount can vary person to person. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2023, “Most medical experts advise against energy drinks for children and teens because of the levels of sugar and caffeine.”

Ahmad also explained the negative short-term effects of drinking energy drinks including, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, and even psychological depression. 

The long-term effects of energy drinks come not just from the caffeine content but also from the other ingredients in these beverages, such as the sugar content. 

“People who drink a lot of energy drinks can affect their sugars and affect their chance of getting diabetes in the future,” said Ahmad. 

The Nutrition Source states that the average energy drink has 41 grams of sugar. 

Sydney Grajkowski, UW-Milwaukee senior double majoring in Political Science and PR with a minor in International Studies, explains that she does not want to be reliant on the caffeine content of energy drinks. 

“That’s why I only drink Bubbler rather than Monster or Alani,” said Grajkowski. “Just because with the taurine and everything in those drinks. I just avoid them whenever possible.”

Ahmad warns that one of the greatest issues with energy drinks is the addiction that can follow. 

“I think that the advertisements, the shape of the cans, even the sugary taste, makes [energy drinks] taste much better.” said Ahmad. “So [young people] drink it just like any other drink, like a soda. It can give you that short feeling of a high, it can give you that adrenaline.” 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that 30% to 50% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported that they consume energy drinks. 

“How it looks can also affect how kids take it and then they do it for peer pressure,” said Ahmad. “They see other kids drinking it as well and want to fit in.”

Grajkowski explained how her 15-year-old brother drinks Monster to work out at the gym and she believes he is too young to be consuming that much caffeine at his age. 

“I think especially with the graphics that you see on Monster and stuff, it doesn’t really say anything, it’s like viking juice or something,” Said Grajkowski. “My little brother is going to grab that and be like this is cool. And on the back in super tiny font it’s going to say people under 18 shouldn’t drink this. It needs to be said way bigger because, realistically, how often are people reading the label?”

“I think the reliance on caffeine, like, as a whole, not even just energy drinks has just gotten kind of out of hand,” Grajkowski said. 

Ahmad explains that he would prefer young people to drink coffee over energy drinks if they want that caffeine intake. 

“I would try to avoid them altogether with all the other chemicals and sugar stuff in them,” Said Ahmad.

Ahmad also explained the importance of being educated about the dangers of caffeine consumption and if people want to stop their addiction to caffeine there are resources for them. 

“If their parents cannot help them, I think they should turn to their physician to help them,” said Ahmad, “They could try weaning off, but they would have withdrawals like headaches or nausea, or they could stop cold turkey.”

Ahmad emphasizes the importance of reading the labels and ensuring that young people know what they are drinking and possible health concerns that could follow from high caffeine consumption .