Junior Allie Minick starts the day like millions of other American teenagers with a crisp, carbonated, caffeinated, chemically created energy drink. She usually stops at SpeedyStop or Walmart on her way to school to get a Strawberry Guava or Grape flavored Reign drink. To her, it’s a necessary step in her morning routine that keeps her awake and alert for a full day of school and sports.
The routine is much the same during the softball season for the pitcher. A tradition among her softball team involves stopping at a gas station together to purchase pregame energy drinks.
“Usually I ‘shotgun’ at least one because it gets the heart pumping and the blood flowing,” Minick said.
The energy drink market, which boasted a net worth of $80 billion in 2024, relies heavily on teenage consumption. According to the CDC, one-third of all adolescents in the United States regularly consume them. Common brands enjoyed by teens include Alani, Monster, Red Bull and Bloom.
Health Concerns
However, not everyone at Kingwood Park sees the popularity of energy drinks as a positive. School nurse Mary Fischer, who has worked as a healthcare provider for more than 30 years, is one such objector. Her main concerns are the harmful effects that the high sugar and caffeine present in energy drinks have on the heart and kidneys. This is especially problematic, she said, when dealing with developing adolescents.
While the recommended caffeine intake of an adult is around 400mg, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any consumption of caffeine for adolescents. The typical energy drink has between 80 and 300mg of caffeine. Fischer says that she sees students with caffeine related ailments in the school’s clinic daily.
“Someone comes in with some symptoms and they’ll have a headache, or they’ll feel shaky,” Fischer said. “And when we go through the things they did that day, you’ll find out that they had an energy drink or they went through Starbucks and got three shots of the espresso. It’s the sugar crash plus the caffeine.”
While Fischer understands the appeal of energy drinks to students who are faced with external pressures such as homework, sports and socialization, she still cautions that the risks outweigh any benefits. While the long-term effects of energy drinks have not been fully determined, some studies say that long-term consumption of energy drinks can lead to increased risk of cardiac issues.
Fischer has noticed in recent years that students have switched from Red Bulls and Monsters to what are perceived as healthier or cleaner options, like Bloom. Fischer warns that these are still not ideal because of the artificial components present, some of which have been linked to diabetes.
“If you went to your pediatrician, they would still tell you you should not be drinking those,” Fischer said. “Even though they may not [have] sugar, there’s still an alternative sweetener in there. And those usually are chemical based manmade stuff that aren’t healthy for you.”
Athletic impact
Fischer is not the only faculty member who objects to the consumption of energy drinks. In the athletic department, only Gatorade and water are provided at football and golf events. Volleyball does not allow athletes to have energy drinks on the court or sidelines, and in girls track and cross country, they are not allowed anywhere.
“I have a very strict ‘no energy drink rule’ when it comes to anybody in cross country or track,” coach Cody Cook said. “I am as anti-energy drink as you can get.”
Cook implemented the ban after he started coaching girls cross country. He bases his policy on past experiences and personal research he’s done in an effort to find optimal performance strategies for his athletes.
“You’re growing up, everything is still adjusting,” Cook said.
“Everything is still maturing. The last thing you need to be doing is putting an artificial heart attack in your body while you’re growing, especially as an athlete.”
Healthier alternatives
Others in the faculty find that for personal use, however, the drinks can be a good way to keep energy up throughout the day. Co-algebra teacher Marty Purcell finds that an Aspire is a healthy way to keep going during her days, which typically start at 6 a.m.
“Around 9:30 or 10 a.m. is when I’m going to have my Aspire and it just kind of gives me that little extra,” Purcell said. “My eyes feel more open. I just feel less fog in the head, just more awake.”
One of Purcell’s focuses is making sure the ingredients in her drink are healthy and in moderation. Aspire in particular boasts plant based rather than synthetic caffeine and more natural ingredients than other brands.
“I only want to have one a day because it’s 80 milligrams of caffeine,” Purcell said. “One time I tried the Alani and it was like double that caffeine, and I could tell the difference.”
Opportunities for profit
Student organizations have recognized the popularity of energy drinks, including the Student Council’s sale of Alani energy drinks at this year’s Senior Sunrise event. They provided the caffeinated drinks in three flavors, all of which sold out at the event.
“We were looking for an opportunity to have a quick and easy fundraiser that was different from the usual spirit nights,” 2027 Class President Abbie Miller said. “We saw [energy drink sales] as an opportunity because most students are really tired in the morning and Senior Sunrise started at like 6:15, 6:30 a.m. So, we got there early and took advantage of the demand for energy drinks. Then that maximized our profit.”
Energy drinks show no signs of fading in popularity amongst teenagers. The energy drink market is expected to grow eight percent by 2030 and reach a cumulative net worth of $125 billion, according to a study by Grand View Research. And while some countries like England have recently banned the sale of energy drinks to minors under 16, the U.S. has made no such overtures.
“I’ve heard they can cause heart attacks, blood clots, and a bunch of other things that are really bad for you,” Minick said. “But I’m thinking, if I’m gonna die from an energy drink, then why should it even be sold in the first place?”