Summary
- Energy drinks are linked to heart arrhythmias, kidney failure, and anxiety disorders among young people.
- New research shows even moderate caffeine levels can trigger dangerous symptoms in healthy adolescents.
- Experts call for urgent policy action as consumption grows among teens and pre-teens across the US and UK.
Running on Empty: The Real Cost of Energy Drinks
They promise instant energy, sharper focus, and stamina through the night. But behind the marketing glitter of energy drinks lies a darker truth—one now backed by science. From insomnia to heart attacks, from anxiety to kidney damage, the cost of these caffeinated concoctions may be far higher than the price on the can.
Consumed by an estimated 31% of Americans—mostly young adults and teenagers—energy drinks have quietly become a cultural staple. Marketed as a lifestyle product, they are sold in convenience stores, gyms, and even school vending machines. But recent research has revealed that these popular drinks are anything but harmless. A slew of new studies paint a disturbing picture: regular consumption is increasingly being linked to both physical and mental health deterioration.
One review published in the journal Nutrients in 2023 found that nearly half of the reported adverse effects in under-18s affected the cardiovascular system—ranging from high blood pressure and arrhythmias to rare cases of artery dissection. Another found the drinks could impair kidney function. A third, based on 1.2 million young people across 21 countries, warned of rising anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
As governments hesitate to act, health experts are sounding the alarm—and children are being left to pay the price.
About energy drinks:
— First Doctor (@FirstDoctor) January 5, 2024
1. Most energy drinks contain 100 to 300mg of caffeine in a single can compared to 40mg of caffeine in regular coffee.
2. The excess caffeine can cause anxiety, digestive upset and irregular heart beat.
3. Energy drinks contain high amounts of added sugar.… pic.twitter.com/XXO8igQQgJ
The Hidden Toll on Hearts and Organs
- 45% of energy drink-related adverse events in minors involve the cardiovascular system.
- A healthy adolescent suffered spontaneous artery dissection after just 80 mg of caffeine.
- High taurine levels may be linked to acute renal failure in teenagers.
- Risks multiply when drinks are consumed over multiple days or with pre-existing conditions.
In 2011, a 17-year-old boy suffered acute renal failure after a high dose of energy drinks. The cause? Taurine—a compound commonly found in these beverages, 95% of which is metabolized through the kidneys. While such extreme outcomes are rare, they’re no longer anecdotal. The 2023 Nutrients review of 18 international studies found a startling pattern: almost one-third of recorded health incidents involved the brain or kidneys, not just the heart.
In many cases, the drinks were consumed in what would be considered “reasonable” amounts by market standards. One 16-ounce can may contain 160mg of caffeine—double the amount in a strong cup of coffee. Yet for developing bodies, especially those in adolescence, this can be dangerous.
Cardiologists have noted an uptick in young patients experiencing chest pain, palpitations, or dizziness shortly after energy drink consumption. Some have even presented with spontaneous coronary artery dissections—a serious event typically seen in much older individuals. These symptoms aren’t random: high caffeine levels constrict blood vessels, raise blood pressure, and can induce dangerous arrhythmias, particularly in those with undiagnosed conditions.
Anxious, Sleepless, and Addicted
- Energy drinks are linked to increased anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts in teens.
- 1.2 million youths from 21 countries were included in a 2024 study highlighting mental health impacts.
- Caffeine disrupts calcium absorption, affecting bone development during adolescence.
- Hyperactivity-related injuries and sleep loss are becoming more common among child consumers.
While the physical toll is alarming, the psychological impacts are equally concerning. A major 2024 study published in Public Health analyzed data from 57 prior studies. Its conclusion: energy drinks are strongly associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress in children and young adults. More troublingly, correlations with suicidal ideation were found, especially among high-frequency consumers.
Annabel Gipp of the British Dietetic Association warned that caffeine interferes with calcium absorption in teens—a critical period for bone density development. The result? Long-term consumption could increase the risk of brittle bones and fractures later in life. “Children drinking these instead of milk are setting themselves up for future health problems,” she noted.
The behavioral effects are also hard to ignore. Hyperactivity-related injuries have been documented, while teachers report increased classroom disruption following consumption. Worse, many children and teens use energy drinks as sleep substitutes—compounding fatigue, mental fog, and dependence.
Cheap, Ubiquitous, and Dangerously Unregulated
- Energy drinks are often cheaper than bottled water, with prices as low as 25 pence in the UK.
- Despite rising evidence, no federal ban exists in the US or UK on energy drink sales to minors.
- Researchers call the lack of regulatory response a “public health failure.”
- Advocacy groups are demanding clearer warning labels and retail restrictions.
Lead researcher Professor Amelia Lake described the market as “predatory,” targeting children with low-cost, high-caffeine drinks that are easily available and rarely regulated. She noted the absurdity of children as young as 10 being able to buy energy drinks for less than the cost of water.
Dr. Shelina Visram of Newcastle University called the government’s inaction “deeply concerning,” especially given the clear data linking these beverages to psychological distress. “The evidence is clear that energy drinks are harmful to the mental and physical health of children and young people as well as their behavior and education,” she said.
Currently, energy drinks are not classified as a controlled product in most countries. In the United States, some schools have issued local bans, but national legislation is nonexistent. The UK government previously proposed restricting sales to under-16s, but the policy was shelved. Industry lobbying and lack of political will continue to stall comprehensive reform.
Meanwhile, the fastest-growing sector of the soft drink market continues to flood convenience stores and gas stations—just as new cases of energy drink-related health crises emerge with troubling frequency.
Bitter Energy: Time for a National Reckoning
Energy drinks have become more than a beverage—they’re a health hazard in a can. Sold cheaply, consumed widely, and marketed aggressively, they represent a perfect storm of corporate greed, scientific negligence, and regulatory paralysis.
The data is no longer debatable: these drinks harm young hearts, disturb developing brains, and undermine long-term organ health. What remains unclear is whether policymakers will act—or let another generation grow up running on caffeine and crashing into irreversible damage.
For parents, schools, and communities, the message is simple: this isn’t just a diet choice—it’s a medical one. And it may be time to pull the plug.
