Energy drinks are all the rage

LINDSAY EMMITE/Riverside

By Austin Newman
Riverside High School

You’ve most likely seen the caffeine and “energy boosting” supplement-filled drinks that dominate every 7-11 across the nation. Though the drinks gained mainstream popularity in the mid-1990s thanks to Red Bull, evidence of energy-filled drinks has been traced as far back as 1929 with Lucozade, a hospital drink for “aiding recovery” that’s now an energy drink.

But what about energy drinks today? If you walk down the beverage aisle of your local convenience or grocery store, you’ll likely see various brands lining the shelves, all claiming that they’ll give users an extra energy high.

I’ll admit that I buy energy drinks, as do my friends. I don’t feel much of a rush when I drink them, but I’m told I talk a lot more when I’ve had some.

But how popular are these adrenaline-inducing drinks among other teens? Responses were varied.

“I like the taste of Monster and the energy it never fails to give. It’s better than coffee in a lot of ways, and I’d easily pick it over a lot of drinks out there,” said Riverside sophomore Jason Walker, a devoted drinker.

“I like to drink them when I am in the mood, but they really don’t give me that much energy,” said Sissonville senior Drew Pack who prefers Mountain Dew’s Amp Overdrive over other energy drinks.

Not everyone is a fan, though. “I know energy drinks will hurt people,” said Riverside junior Jerrid Thomas. “I have a friend who developed a kidney stone from drinking too many energy drinks.”

When abused, energy drinks can be a teenager’s legal substitute for alcohol. Some teens down multiple energy drinks very quickly for a buzz, leading them to rely on the beverages for energy. In 2006, Chicago researchers reported a rise in caffeine abuse cases - including 12 percent that had to be hospitalized - and the average age of patients was 21.

Energy drinks also have a reputation for being mixed with alcohol. There is even an energy drink called “Cocaine” that many stores, including 7-11, refuse to stock due to its name.

But it appears that regardless of the negatives and whether the boost is psychological or physical, teens will still buy these drinks. Whether you choose to become an energy drink fiend or just a casual drinker, please remember to drink responsibly.