Energy Drinks and Teens

Energy drinks are a $3.4 billion dollar a year industry. Teens make up 31% of the sales of these energy drinks. Energy drinks claim to boost energy, help you lose weight and increase your endurance. Most energy drinks contain lots of caffeine and sugar.

JLHanna, a 22 year old college student and I, a 48 year old out of work due to a severe back injury, had a discussion about teenagers and energy drinks.

Introduction

Me - Energy drinks are full of sugar and caffeine and can be detrimental to your health.

JLHanna - Two energy drinks in one day can lead you to excessive caffeine intake.

1. Have you ever had an energy drink?

Me - I can honestly say, no, I have never had an energy drink. I have seen people drink them and just from watching one person in particluar drink them, I feel they are very dangerous to your health.

JLHanna - I have never tried one either although I do need a kick in the butt to get me going sometimes.

2. Do you think that teens need to be drinking energy drinks?

Me - I definitely think that energy drinks should not be consumed by teenagers. There is just too much caffeine and too much sugar in some of these drinks. I think drinking these drinks could cause a lot of health problems for teenagers.

JLHanna - if drinking two of these drinks in a day gives an average person excessive caffeine intake, what is it doing to teenagers? Most teenagers are smaller then adults and can't handle as much stuff in their system as adults can.

3. Have you ever witnessed anyone having a problem with energy drinks?

Me - I knew of a young guy at my work that drank 5 or more Red Bull energy drinks in one eight hour shift. This young man was about 20 years old. He would be so wired after drinking them. It is like he could climb the walls. All of us at work would warn this guy that he is going to have health problems if he kept it up. He actually ended up in the hospital with chest pains and my bet is that the energy drinks caused his chest pain.

JLHanna - Geez that sounds awful. I've never witnessed anyone having problems with energy drinks.

4. Do you think energy drinks can be addictive?

Me - I do feel that energy drinks can be very addictive. They contain sugar and caffeine, two addictive substances. Now, sugar and caffeine are not illegal substances but they can be pretty lethal especially when combined in one drink with lethal doses.

JLHanna - Energy drinks contain caffeine so of course they are addicitve.

5. Do you feel there should be some kind of regulation on the usage of energy drinks and teenagers?

Me - I definitely feel that there should be some kind of regulation put on energy drinks and possibly a ban to teenagers. Teenagers do not need to be drinking energy drinks. They are growing and developing still and these drinks could cause damage to their bodies.

JLHanna - Yes, I strongly believe there should be a regulation of energy drinks with teengers. No energy drinks until you are 18. They were not made with the teenager in mind, they were made for the people who work all day and run out of engery because they work too hard. The very first energy drinks were used in hospitals and were used to help aid with the recovery of the patient.

Conclusion

Me - Energy drinks are a very addictive substance. I feel that teenagers do not need to be drinking them. I think a lot of teens drink them because they think it is a cool thing to do. Before drinking any kind of drink that contains a lot of caffeine and sugar toether, I think teens should think twice about it.

JLHanna - Energy are addictive and should be treated with care. Some people have had health problems which could have stemmed from the use of energy drinks. Teens don't need it and it wasn't meant for them to begin with.