Energy Drink Dangers - Milwaukee School of Engineering

There are many different trends for food and entertainment that we have seen over the years. Some trends prove timeless, like champagne at New Year’s Eve, whereas some are gone as quickly as they began. A current trend gaining popularity is energy drinks. These highly caffeinated, sugary sweet drinks are everywhere, from the stores to TV shows to the bars and they are very popular on many college campuses. 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.

Yes, energy drinks will give you a boost of energy, but it won’t last. Energy drinks contain very high amounts of sugar and caffeine, which in high amounts can be dangerous. Studies have found that caffeine increases heart rate, which over time can increase the stroke and heart disease (1). Over consumption of caffeine can also lead to nervousness, irritability, and insomnia (3) and has been associated with birth defects in pregnant women. Additional researchers have shown that consuming large quantities of sugar is likely to cause weight gain (3), where it would it would likely take an average person 15–20 minutes to burn off the 110 calories in one can of Red Bull (5).

Many people are not aware of these risks with some of the marketing claims that these drinks claim to make. Certain energy drinks claim to increase performance, concentration, reaction speed, vigilance, emotional status, and metabolism (2), yet are unfounded and without support. Conversely, energy drinks can sometimes even have the opposite effects of their claims, like fatigue and dehydration (4).

Another popular trend is to mix these energy drinks with alcohol. Many like the taste, where other myths claim that mixing energy drinks with alcohol with speed up intoxication. However, research has found that no one really knows how the combination of ingredients in energy drinks will affect the human body (2). Many people report electrolyte disturbances, nausea, vomiting and heart irregularities when mixing alcohol with energy drinks (4). This combination of a stimulant (energy drink) and a depressant (alcohol) can have dangerous effects (7). According to Texas A & M University,
“The stimulant effects can mask how intoxicated you are and prevent you from realizing how much alcohol you have consumed. Fatigue is one of the ways the body normally tells someone that they’ve had enough to drink. The stimulant effect can give the person the impression they aren’t impaired. No matter how alert you feel, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the same as it would be without the energy drink. Once the stimulant effect wears off, the depressant effects of the alcohol will remain and could cause vomiting in your sleep or respiratory depression” (5).
The dangerous consequences from this form of entertainment can be avoided if people drink responsibly, not just with alcohol, but with energy drinks as well. Enjoy them in moderation and try more natural sources of vitamins and minerals as part of a healthy diet.

For more information about the hazards of energy drinks, check out the following links:

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