ARE ENERGY DRINKS SAFE FOR TEENS?

[Anonymous]

My teenage boys (twins, almost 14, over 100 lbs.) have a new passion for those energy drinks you can get at 7-11 -- Monster, Rock Star, etc. I know they are loaded with sugar and caffeine. Some of the cans say "not recommended for children under 18." Are they really dangerous? Should I refuse to buy them?

[Anonymous]

I would be very cautious. I coach in the public schools and students are not even allowed to drink them on campus because they are not healthy (the Athletic Trainer makes this a big deal and very clear).

[Anonymous]

I think I'd make that an occasional thing and definitely not a daily thing (to the extent you can control teens, I don't have one yet).

[Anonymous]

They are loaded with sugar, caffeine, and chemicals. Why go there?

[Anonymous]

Those drinks are not good for teens or anybody for that matter. If you have time try this experiment. Get some eggs and remove the shell with vinegar. Place one egg in water, place one in the energy drink. In a few days the egg in water will still look "healthy" while the one in the energy drink will turn brown and black. Imagine that happening to all the cells in your body This made a huge impact at my school with my students

[Anonymous]

Not good. Don't let them drink them. Kids are abusing them, drinking too many to get the feel of speed. This is per someone who works in teen programs!

[Anonymous]

I don't know if they're toxic, but they're certainly crap.

I would not let my kids have them. (Then again, I refuse to have any type of soda in the house; I think it's disgusting and can't understand why anyone drinks it, so take my opinion with a grain - or entire shaker - of salt.

[Anonymous]

The answer is common sense (in addition to having a warning label on the darned can): NO, they're not safe. They're not lethal but they're crap.

[Anonymous]

uh ... YES!?!?

[Anonymous]

9:02 No they are not. There are warnings on the label. And teens are abusing them. This comes from a counselor who works with teen groups around the country.

[Anonymous]

THere's a slew of articles on teens abusing Red Bull and other energy drinks.

http://www.google.com/search?q=red+bull+teens+abusing+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[Anonymous]

You should DEFINITELY refuse to buy them. Why get them addicted to caffeine? Only serves to make you feel like crap when you don't get your dose. Once you're addicted, the energy "benefits" of caffeine disappear. It just helps bring you back up to what would have otherwise been your level of normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should DEFINITELY refuse to buy them. Why get them addicted to caffeine? Only serves to make you feel like crap when you don't get your dose. Once you're addicted, the energy "benefits" of caffeine disappear. It just helps bring you back up to what would have otherwise been your level of normal.

Teens have mentioned some other kids buying adderal, ritalin etc to study longer. There are those with dubious add diagnosis also. Some do high intensity coffee and those heavily caffeinated drinks for academics. Too tired from sports etc to spend the hours needed for good grades.

[Anonymous]

Right kids on Ritalin sell Ritalin to their classmates then tell their parents they lost theirs.