Energy Drinks Effects in Young Adults and Children - Essay Example

Energy drinks effects in young adults and children Name: Institution: Date: Should energy drinks containing high levels of caffeine be restricted to people who are over 18? Introduction In the recent years that has been increase in the debate concerning the safety of energy drinks particularly to children and young adults. Following the report of a young girl in Maryland after consuming Monster Energy Drink, experts have conducted researches to substantiate the claim that energy drinks with high amount of caffeine should be restricted to people who are above eighteen. Empirical researches contacted have demonstrated the adverse effects that energy drinks with high amounts of caffeine have on young adults and children (Adams, 2011). A can of energy drink contains high amounts of caffeine that can be harmful to children and young adults. Marketing strategies for energy drinks have targeted the populous group of children, adolescents, and young adults who do not pay much attention to constituent ingredients found in energy drinks. This paper explores the debate revolving consequences of energy drinks and provides reasons why energy drinks with high amount of caffeine should be restricted to people who are above eighteen years old. Discussion Energy drinks with high amounts of caffeine have to be restricted to people who are above 18. A recent research carried out at John Hopkins University came to a conclusion that energy drinks have to be labeled with conspicuously visible health warning targeting the teens and children or anyone who is below eighteen. Researchers performed tests on twenty-eight different energy drinks and their finding are alarming (Cannon, Cooke, McCarthy, 2001). The study gave its recommendations basing on the fact that certain energy drinks contained up to fourteen times more caffeine as compared to an average can of cola. This is likened to taking seven cups of coffee. Seemingly, young people below the age of eighteen have not developed enough tolerance to caffeine. Energy drinks are promoted from the understanding that they enhance physical stamina hence sports focus; and they are presented as a means of coping aftermath of heavy night out, or a means boosting one’s energy when feeling fatigued. Children and young people below the age of eighteen are highly susceptible to peer-pressure and advertising. A well designed marketing campaign can successfully harness their attention and interest towards a certain product, and hence, their money. Despite the temptation of having a drink may be overwhelming, majority of young people do not study carefully the ingredients used to make the product which are normally displayed on the label under the ingredient list prior to buying the product. These young people would not be even ware of the energy drinks caffeine content and what it means to their health. An adult who has developed a certain level of tolerance to caffeine is able to take a number of cups of coffee in the course of the day without experiencing any negative effects (Buscemi et al, 2010). On the other hand, an adolescent or child taking the same number of seven cups of coffee in one instant may be disastrous in a way. Health advisors and other nutritionists have cautioned against the high amount of sugar in energy drinks and other chemicals that the brand may contain but nothing or little has been said about the caffeine content in such drinks. It is only in recent researches that the issue has been pointed out. Caffeine content in fizzy drinks has been largely overlooked. Popular energy drinks in the market have caffeine in them that can affect the health of young people who have not developed adequate tolerance to caffeine. Marketing campaign on energy drinks has exploited the psyche in adolescent and young people. These are people who are quick to act and copy what their peers are doing without much consideration of the long term effects of their actions. High amounts of caffeine in energy drinks can affect the concentration and behavior of young people and teens (McCarthy, 2009). Most of these groups are still in high school or colleges and need concentration and patience. Many schools have come to learn the effects of energy drinks with high amount of caffeine and some have gone a step further and banned them. Caffeine is a stimulant that excites the working of the body. Bad behavior and not being able to concentrate has been cited in students who use the energy drinks with high amounts of caffeine. This has led to banning individual brands of drinks that are considered harmful to the young people. Health experts warn that energy drinks can be dangerous to children and young adults with diabetes, ADHD, and heart problems. Energy drinks should not be confused with sports drinks which are marketed by sports heroes. Energy drinks do not have therapeutic benefit, and most of the ingredients are not fully researched and hence not regulated. Links to toxicity brings into question the serious adverse effects that are associated with energy drinks (Miller, 2008). Families and vulnerable populations have to be fully educated on the consequences of energy drinks. Heavy consumption of energy drinks has been linked to serious health problems such as stroke, mania, seizures, and sometimes sudden death. Healthy people are able to tolerate certain amount of caffeine but young people and teens below the age of 18 may encounter some challenges when they continue consuming the same amount of caffeine as adults (Berger & Alford, 2009). Almost half of the energy drink viable market consists of children who are the age of twelve, young adults from 19-years, and adolescents 12-18years old. Anais Fournier, A young girl of fourteen years from Maryland collapsed and died of heart attack after consuming of Monster energy drinks, and her parents sued the company for being responsible for her death (Haiken, 2012). This is one of the unfortunate eventualities that are attributed to energy drinks and their consequences to young people who are below the age of eighteen. Energy drinks sometimes wiggle around FDA labeling laws and regulations because some are marketed as supplements as opposed to foods. Regulations do not allow soda to contain above 0.02% caffeine, but on the other hand, energy drinks exceed this limit. 240mg of caffeine are contained in a twenty-four-ounce can of the popular Monster Energy Drink (Seifert et al, 2011). Experts point out that the amount of caffeine can go up to 550mg. Health experts have drawn the attention of regulatory agencies to the threat posed by energy drinks. There are adverse effects which are associated with the consumption of energy drinks. High amounts of caffeine may increase cardiac conditions where stimulants are advised against. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and ion channelopathies are most prevalent in young adults and children owing to the risk of syncope, hypertension, sudden death, and hypertension. Stimulants for ADHD may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Children having ADHD have greater risk of substance abuse including caffeine abuse which inhibit A2A adenosine receptors and hence encourages dopamine effects on the D2 dopamine receptor. Targeting young adults and children in the marketing strategies began as early as 1987 with the launch of Red Bull in Austria. It took almost five years to export the product to Germany hence fuelling rumors about its dangerous effects and legality. Its popularity soared up and it was referred to as “liquid cocaine”, “legal drug”, and “speed in the can” (Frost-Sharratt, 2013). Strategies for energy drinks marketing entail athlete and sporting event sponsorships, alcohol-alternative promotion, and placement of the product in social media like Facebook and video games which are mainly accessed by children and young adults. The labels on energy drinks do not have conspicuous warnings on the adverse effects to people who are sensitive to caffeine. The cans containing the energy drinks are designed to resemble the alcoholic drinks which may end up attracting risk-taking youths. They do not state that consumption can be harmful to children, pregnant or nursing mothers; they may pass as healthy drinks which can be consumed by anybody (Lee, 2009). Considering the adverse affects the adverse effects that are associated with high caffeine amounts in children and young adults, there is the need to restrict energy drinks with high levels of caffeine to people who are above the age of eighteen. Conclusion Health experts have done a commendable job of analyzing the adverse effects of high amounts of caffeine in energy drinks to young adults and children. Not adequate effort has been invested to improve labeling regulations that may it difficult for energy drinks with high levels of caffeine to be marketed to children and young adults. Such energy drinks have passed as supplements and therefore avoiding the scrutiny that is directed to other types of food. Looking at the effects of energy drinks with high amounts of caffeine as presented by researcher, it is in good faith that the consumption of such drinks should be confined to people above eighteen. Adults can tell what is good for them and have time to look at ingredients. References Adams, S. (2011). Energy drinks ‘potentially dangerous for children’ say doctors, The Telegraph, retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8323369/Energy-drinks-potentially-dangerous-for-children-say-doctors.html on 20th May, 2013. Berger, A.J & Alford, K. (2009). Cardiac arrest in a young man following excess consumption of caffeinated “energy drinks.” Med J Aust. 190(1):41–43. Buscemi S, Verga S, Batsis JA, et al (2010). Acute effects of coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects, Eur J Clin Nutr, 64(5):483–489. Cannon, M.E, Cooke, C.T, McCarthy, J.S. (2001). Caffeine-induced cardiac arrhythmia: an unrecognized danger of health food products, Med J Aust, 174(10):520–521. Frost-Sharratt, C. (2013). Are energy drinks bad for children? Weight loss resources, retrieved from: http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/children/caffeine-energy-drinks-bad.htm on 20th May, 2013. Haiken, M. (2012). Can energy drinks kill? The FDA investigates, consumers worry, a business under fire, Forbes, retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2012/10/23/can-energy-drinks-kill-the-fda-investigates/ on 20th May, 2013. Lee, J. (2009). Energy drinks vs. sports drinks: know thy difference, retrieved from: http://speedendurance.com/2009/07/09/energy-drinks-vs-sports-drinks-know-thy-difference on 20th May, 2013. McCarthy M. (2009). Overuse of energy drinks worries health pros, retrieved from: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-07-01-Drinks_N.htm on 20th May, 2013. Miller, KE.  (2008). Wired energy drinks, jock identity, masculine norms, and risk taking, J Am Coll Health, 56(5):481–489. Seifert, S.M., Schaechter, J.L., Hershorin, E.R., & Lipshultz, S.E. (2011). Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults, Pediatrics 127 (3): 511-528, retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065144/ on 20th May, 2013. Read More