Are Energy Drinks Safe for Kids?

Short answer…no. These drinks are loaded with caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants that are unsafe for children and teens. They also have addictive potential. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), among others, is against children and adolescents consuming these drinks. 

The reason? High levels of caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants. 

Energy drinks are full of caffeine and popular among adolescents despite the dangers.

Despite these recommendations, sales have skyrocketed with energy drinks being the second most popular supplement among adolescents, after multivitamins. 40% of American teens report using these drinks.

This article focuses on caffeine content.

What are energy drinks?

Energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks. Energy drinks are beverages containing caffeine and sometimes other stimulants, such as guarana, L-carnitine, creatine, or taurine in high concentrations. 

Most sports drinks do not contain caffeine or stimulants, just fluid, sugar, electrolytes, and vitamins.

Energy shots can pack over 200 mg of caffeine in less than 2 ounces.

Caffeine powders are even more dangerous. These can be purchased online and are highly concentrated. A single teaspoon can contain as much as 5,000 mg caffeine - potentially a lethal dose. As one source put it: “Just one teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine can contain the same amount of caffeine as 28 cups of coffee.” 

Caffeine powders are sold online and are highly concentrated.

These are serious concerns…caffeine in excess is potentially a lethal substance.

How much caffeine is ok?

The AAP recommends that children under 12 not consume caffeine. For ages 12 to 18, they advise no more than 100 mg caffeine daily (similar to the amount in one cup of coffee). 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends these limits per day, not per drink:

Adults - up to 400 mg of caffeine 

Pregnant and Breastfeeding - up to 200 mg

Children - no safe limits are set

How much caffeine is in energy drinks?

The caffeine amount varies but typically ranges from 100-300 mg per serving. Consuming more than one of these in a day often exceeds recommended amounts. 

Energy drinks are considered supplements, thus they are not regulated. Consequently, their caffeine content may not be listed.

Many of these drinks may also contain as much as 25-30 grams of sugar, per the Centers for Disease Control.

Is caffeine dangerous?

Too much caffeine can cause caffeine toxicity, a serious condition. This has led to an increase in emergency room visits by children. Caffeine is rapidly absorbed by the stomach, with concentrations peaking in 20-40 minutes and effects lasting 3-10 hours.

Symptoms of caffeine toxicity can occur with heavy caffeine use of more than 400 mg daily and include:

• High blood pressure

• Racing heart, palpitations

• Abnormal heart rhythms

• Vomiting

• Disorientation

• Insomnia

• Headaches

• Irritability

• Tremors

• Stomach upset

Seizures and stroke can occur with consumption of 1,200 mg caffeine or more, especially when combined with other stimulants such as guarana (which contains caffeine), because the effects are amplified. Monster Energy, Rockstar Energy, and Red Bull are just a few that contain both caffeine and guarana. 

One gram of guarana contains about 40 mg caffeine.

Guarana is also sold online in powder form and is an additional caffeine source.

Excess caffeine in doses of 5,000 to 10,000 mg is considered lethal.

This dose is lower in children due to a smaller body size. 

Those who have underlying health conditions such as heart problems, seizures, or migraines, may be at greater risk for symptoms and toxicity.

Caffeine withdrawal symptoms can also occur if intake is stopped suddenly and include headaches, low energy, irritability, and fatigue.

Children, adolescents, pregnant women, and those with heart conditions should avoid energy drinks completely.

What you can do as a parent.

1. Be aware of what your child drinks and uses for sports hydration. Discuss the dangers of caffeine.

2. Find out if your child’s school sells energy drinks in their vending machines, cafeteria, or snack stores. Encourage teachers and staff to remove these risky products.

3. Inform coaches about the dangers of energy drinks and ask them to educate student athletes. The National Federation of State High School Associations recommends against the use of energy drinks by young athletes and advocates distributing information regarding these dangers to student athletes.

4. Be a role model; refrain from buying or consuming energy drinks.

Stimulants - whether food, beverages, or drugs - have no place for children or adolescents.