Nowadays, many teenagers and adults drink energy drinks primarily for a boost of energy drinks. Other people drink it for different reasons such as going along with their peers, for better athletic performance, etc. However, the substances in energy drinks that cause a short boost of energy can harm people if they drink too much, especially children. That is why drinking energy drinks may have some downfalls, so in my opinion, the consumption of energy drinks should be restricted.
Firstly, energy drinks have excessive caffeine, sugar, and vitamin B that could lead to serious health problems. Drinking excessive amounts of caffeine can lead to higher blood pressure. Then, it can lead to anxiety, insomnia, and in severe cases, heart disease. High sugar levels can also lead to diabetes and obesity. However, caffeine is proven to improve the physical performance of adults and research shows that the vitamin B found in energy drinks could help with heart disease while the B12 could keep one’s blood cells healthy.
Adding on to that, energy drinks can not only have effects on physical health but also mental health. Energy drinks can result in negative mental health because they can be the cause of addiction, nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, and more. According to a survey, adults who drink more than 400 mg show these symptoms, but if one drinks less than 400 mg of energy drinks, they can have some positive effects such as giving short-term boosts to both mood and performance, proving that only drinking large amounts can lead to negative effects.
Last but not least, as mentioned earlier, energy drinks can have effects on children. Energy drinks can have up to 500 mg of caffeine per can; In comparison, a can of Coke has 45 mg of caffeine, and a cup of coffee is twice the amount. 100 mg of caffeine is the maximum amount of caffeine a child can drink and it is proven that any more than that is harmful to them. But, according to a survey, 94% of children already know the negative effects energy drinks can have on them.
In conclusion, energy drinks can have positive and negative physical and mental effects on children. It is proven that children between the ages of 12-18 should drink less than 100 mg of energy drinks and, in my opinion, we should make this a strict law. Because the negative effects outweigh the positive effects and the positive effects only appear when drinking certain amounts, there should be a strict law in order to make people only drink certain amounts. Therefore, children should only drink 100 mg or less and adults should drink 400 mg at most to prevent the negative effects of energy drinks.