Energy Drink Exploritory Paper

8/2/2019 Energy Drink Exploritory Paper

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John Goodman | 1

John Goodman

English 1301-11249

07 March 2011

Professor April Kinkead

Energy Drinks

Recently, drinks such as Monster, Venom, NOS, AMP Energy, Redline, and

many others have become a very popular coffee alternative. The Term energy drinks

refer to drinks that are loaded with Caffeine as well as a combination of numerous other

natural ingredients. These drinks are usually included amongst the heath supplement

region of a grocery store, which in the case of energy drinks means nothing about their

value. (Schaechter 511-28) Most drinks claim to give an individual a boost of energy

with a "secret blend" of ingredients with energy-boosting properties. Energy drinks

secret blends usually contain caffeine, taurine, vitamins, herbal supplements, and an

extreme amount of sugar. Teenagers and young adults are the targeted consumer group

for these products. Thirty-one percent of 12 to 17 year-olds and thirty-four percent of 18

to 24 year-olds report regular consumption of energy drinks. The term Energy drinks was

created by the energy drink manufactures and is not recognized by the FDA or the

USDA. (Babu 35-42) Many people are coming to rely on the energy jolt that they get

from these drinks; yet they do not realize the hazards of this sweet habit.


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The first so-called first ever energy drink was Lipcitan-D, created in Japan, in the

late 1960s by Taisho Pharmaceuticals.(Penalty 61-62) The drink was first introduced as a

medical tonic drink for the individuals that were suffering from sleeping disorders who

needed a burst of energy to help them maintain energy the next day. However, the drink

soon blew up in the Asian party circuit because it would help people maintain high levels

of energy for late night parties and clubbing. This medical tonic made its way to Thailand

and became a very favorable drink to rickshaw drivers. Dietrich Mateschitz an Austrian

Business man took this novel idea and ran with it, adding caffeine and sugar and named

this drink Red Bull. (Penalty 61-62) The drink Red bull was then introduced in America in

the latter half of 1997.

Before Red Bull, American citizens were already beginning their frantic search

for something that would help them work longer hours. Even though other energy drinks

later hit the market, Red Bull still remains the most well known and top name. Other

Soda manufactures such as the Coca-Cola Company and the Pepsi Company are now

trying to compete with Energy drink companies. Hansens Sodas however is the only

company that is gaining ground on Red Bull. They introduced the Energy drinks Monster

and Venom to the energy drink world. Energy drinks are projected to make upwards to

six billion dollars this year alone in the United States.(Heneman, and Zidenberg-Cherr 1-5)

The evidence that energy drinks can make someone a better athlete is extremely

sketchy. Theres good evidence that caffeine is ergogenic, said Dr. Erin Duchan, a

pediatrician and co-author of a review of the current science about energy drinks for


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athletes, published recently in The Physician and Sports Medicine. She has also stated

that It can, in the right circumstances, improve athletic performance.

However, the amounts of caffeine required to improve performance varies widely

from person to person. The effects of the caffeine typically are less severe one an

individual or athlete who has become tolerant to the effect of caffeine. David L. Higgins,

MD of Maryland Sports Medicine Centers conducted a study on collegiate runners. He

found that a sugar free version of Red Bull, (while still loaded with caffeine) did not

improve the runners performance. It in fact made the runner run a lesser distance while

at the same time becoming more dehydrated because of the amount of caffeine in the

drink. Dr. Higgins said large amounts of sugar in energy drinks have been known to

cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upset, which is certainly not going to improve

anyones performance.( Miller 481-489)

Earlier research of energy drinks have stated that there is no higher risk to an

individual in drinking an energy drink because the caffeine content is comparable to that

of a cup of coffee. However, with the newer energy drinks that are hitting todays market

contain upwards to 500mg of caffeine, compared to 45mg in an 8oz cup of coffee. There

has been further research to indicate the dangers of ingesting that much caffeine a day.

Especially by people who have a pre-existing heart condition. High levels of caffeine can

cause a sudden jolt that may trigger a heart attack.( Treiner) Monster Energy drinks

include a warning label that states: Consume Responsibly-Limit 2 cans per day. Not

recommended for children, pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine.


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Some manufactures such as Red Bull claim that Red Bull energy drink is a

functional beverage, specially developed to periods of increased mental and physical

exertion. They claim that it can be drunk in virtually any situation. For example red bull

may be consumed during sports, at work, while driving, and for leisure activities. (Red

Bull) Overall Red Bull claims that their energy drink will Increase performance,

increases concentration and reaction speed, improves vigilance, improves the emotional

status, and stimulates metabolism. Red Bulls also states on their web site that Numerous

scientific studies in the fields of sports medicine, internal medicine and psychology

confirm the effects described for Red Bull Energy Drink. All scientific studies are peer-

reviewed, published and can be found in public databases. (Red Bull) (However, Red

Bull did not site these public data bases or the scientific studies.)

A study in the journal Pediatrics spells out everything someone needs to know

about energy drinks, particularly the risks they pose to the young people who are most

inclined to use them.(Park) The potential harms, caused mostly by too much caffeine or

similar ingredients, include heart palpitations, seizures, strokes, sudden death, and male

impedance. The Pediatrics paper calls for increased awareness from physicians of their

patients' use of energy drinks and the potential health effects (particularly among athletes

and children with conditions such as ADHD, diabetes or eating disorders). It also calls for

further study of caffeine's effects on young people and of the effects of other energy-

drink ingredients such as Taurine and Guarana. Finally, the authors suggest regulation of

energy drinks may be in order if research turns up compelling evidence that the popular

beverages cause harm.(Miller 481-489)


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As a 28 year old male who attends college full time, works a job full-time,

takes care of elderly grandparents, and is a father I am very interested in the facts of

Energy Drinks. I have consumed almost every kind of energy drink that is currently out

on the market. From the watermelon flavor of Pimp Juice by Nelly to the sweet beer taste

of Red bull and every energy drink in-between I have tried. There were times where I can

remember drinking them with every meal and throughout the day when I was thirsty or

needed to recharge the batteries. I can remember times when I would be the first person

in line waiting to try the new flavor of whatever energy was in at the time. There are just

not enough hours in the day to do what I do and still have the energy to function in

todays fast pace society.

Only when I attended an English class instructed by Professor Kinkaid did I

realize that energy drinks were extremely unhealthy and dangerous to consume. I have

come to greatly dislike energy drinks and try to inform everyone that I know of the

dangers of drinking these drinks. I realize that I cannot blame my friends (who first

introduced energy drinks to me), the stores who sell the drinks, or even the manufacturers

who push these toxic concoctions on individuals. The only person who is to blame for

ever consuming these drinks is I, for I never did any research on what was being put into

my body. As innocent as a can of sweet tasting liquid can appear to be, it seems that the

Energy Drink Epidemic warrants the federal government to get more involved in the

distribution of these drinks. Not only did the government make cigarette and alcohol

companies print larger warning labels on their containers, but they also increased the

taxes of their products. The government did this because cigarettes and alcohol is

unhealthy for people to smoke or consume. I believe that the government needs to get


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involved with the distribution of Energy drinks and propose that they make energy drinks

abide by the same rules that cigarette and alcohol companies do.


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Works Cited

Babu, Kavita. Energy Drinks: The New Eye-Opener For Adolescents. Clin Ped Emerg Med.

9.3 (2008): 35-42. Print.

Heneman, Karrie, and Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr. Some Facts About Energy Drinks. Davis , CA:

University of California, 2007. 1-5. Pamphlet.

Miller, Kathleen. "Wired: Energy Drinks, Jock Identity, Masculine Norms, and Risk Taking."

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH. 56.5 (2008): 481-489. Print.

Park, Alice. "Energy Drinks May Harm Health, Especially For Children." Time Magazine 14

February 2011: n. pag. Web. 3 Mar 2011.

Penalty, Jeff. "A Brief History of Energy Drinks." SWIDDLE. 19 January 2011: 61-62. Print.

Red Bull. 2011 March 2011 .

Schaechter, MD, Judith, Sara Seifert, BS, Eugene Hershorin, MD, and Steven Lipshultz, MD.

"Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults."

PEDIATRICS. 127.3 (2011): 511-28. Print.

Treiner, Theresa. "Energy Drink Dangers." Newsletters for Mental Health (2007): n. pag. Web. 2

Mar 2011..

Energy Drink Exploritory Paper

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