Energy-Drink Paper Warns of Dangers to Teens

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.Teenagers long have been warned about the dangers of alcohol.

Now, anecdotal evidence and research is mounting that another beverage could harm adolescents: caffeine-laden energy drinks. A report published in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics in Review summarizes current research and concludes energy drinks can cause such medical problems in teens as high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and obesity, HealthDay News reported.

"I don't think there is any sensationalism going on here," review lead author Dr. Kwabena Blankson was quoted as declaring in the article. "These drinks can be dangerous for teens."

The authors of the report cautioned that alcohol when mixed with the energy drinks can exacerbate the harm that teens suffer.

The American Beverage Association (ABA) slammed the article, "Energy Drinks: What Teenagers (and Their Doctors) Should Know."

"This paper contains misinformation about energy drinks and does nothing to address the very serious problem of underage drinking and excessive alcohol consumption among young adults," ABA griped. "Moreover, ABA member companies manufacture non-alcoholic beverages including energy drinks. Contrary to the misperception perpetuated by this paper, most mainstream energy drinks contain only about half the amount of caffeine of a similar size cup of coffeehouse coffee."

In a letter sent last year to Jon Leibowitz, the outgoing chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey warned about the potential dangers of energy drinks to children and teenagers. Those alleged harms are detailed in a lawsuit that was filed in October against Monster Beverage Corp. over the death of a 14-year-old girl who reportedly consumed two energy drinks within 24 hours.