WASHINGTON: Pediatricians and concerned parents are urging the United States to treat high-caffeine energy drinks like alcohol and cigarettes, advocating for a ban on their sale to minors. These calls come as it is revealed that a single serving of some of these energy drinks can contain as much caffeine as six Coca-Colas.
One of the new energy drinks in question, Prime Energy, which was launched this year, contains a staggering 200 mg of caffeine within its 350 ml can, surpassing permissible caffeine levels in countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Other competitive products, including those backed by Anheuser Busch InBev and even one by Kim Kardashian, also contain 200 mg of caffeine. The well-known brand Monster Energy contains 150 mg of caffeine.
Over the years, the caffeine content in energy drinks has steadily increased, leading to bans in some countries and restrictions in a few others, including age verification requirements for purchase. However, neither the United States nor the United Kingdom has established national regulations prohibiting the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks.
Without legal age mandates akin to those for alcohol and cigarettes, retailers are unlikely to impose restrictions, according to Dr. Holly Benjamin, a professor of pediatrics and orthopedic surgery at the University of Chicago. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry emphasizes that there is no established safe caffeine dosage for children.
Side Effects of Energy Drinks
Dr. Benjamin warns that potential side effects for children consuming caffeine may include rapid or irregular heartbeats, headaches, seizures, shaking, stomach discomfort, and adverse emotional effects on mental health.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing a request from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to investigate the caffeine content in Prime Energy and its marketing to children, according to an FDA spokesperson.
While Prime Energy representatives have declined to comment on this matter, the co-founders of the brand, social media influencers Logan Paul and KSI, stated in August that they are not marketing the drink to children and believe that retailers should regulate sales to minors.
The American Medical Association supports a ban on the marketing of caffeine drinks to children under the age of 18 and also urges U.S. regulators or lawmakers to mandate “child-resistant packaging” on high-energy drinks.
Concerns over the marketing of such beverages to children are further exacerbated by claims that these products are being displayed prominently in stores, making them easily accessible to minors who might not be aware of their energy drink status. Parents and advocacy groups are calling for better labeling and restrictions on the sale of these products to minors.
Specialty retailer GNC has implemented an age restriction of 18 and older for the purchase of energy drinks, but larger retailers like Target and Walmart typically do not verify buyers’ ages, according to Reuters interviews and in-store checks.
