A student anxiously watches the clock. The buzz from the exceptional amount of caffeine in their energy drink had turned into racing thoughts, jittery hands, and a tight feeling in their chest. 

According to  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to half of adolescents  consume energy drinks at least once a week,  and a Civic Science  study shows the majority of energy drink consumers are teenagers and young adults.

“A lot of my friends drink energy drinks [and] I would say it’s a very big part of my morning routine to have an energy drink as well,” said Cedar Shoals high school sophomore Catherine Dennison.

Above: An infographic picturing popular energy drinks including Alani, Monster, RedBull and Celcius, respectively, are pictured. Graphic by Edie Ash.

With teenagers included in the majority of consumers of energy drinks, brands like Celcius and Alani Nu have taken further steps to appeal to their audience through flashy packaging as well as collabing with popular celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Megan Moroney, and Jake Paul. 

“There is always something being promoted to teenagers that is bad for them. I think they are incredibly glamourized,”said Athens Clarke County Pediatrician Carrie Kelly.  “They make the packaging so appealing. I think these collaborations are so influential . It’s completely understandable why [they] are influenced”

The energy drink craze has made an appearance all over popular social media apps like TikTok with hashtags including “#Energydrinklover” and “#Energydrinks” having hundreds of thousands of videos. 

“Energy drinks are on TikTok a lot” Dennison said. “When new flavors come out, people definitely post about it and a lot of teenagers are on TikTok, so it definitely influences them.”

While these drinks are known for offering aesthetic packaging and a quick boost of energy,   it’s important to read the labels before consuming your daily pick-me-up.

Many popular energy drinks including Celcius and Alani Nu contain up to twice The American Academy of Pediatric recommended daily limit of 100 milligrams- some reaching up to 250 milligrams. When consumed, Athens Clarke County Pediatrician Carrie Kelly warns consumers of the threats it may have on their health. 

“We want to avoid putting things like that into our bodies, especially for teenagers, as their bodies and brains are still developing and growing,” said Kelly. “Sleep is important for our development, our memory, our learning and anything that affects sleep can be really bad. As a pediatrician, I would say sleep is very important to help ourselves feel healthy and feel less anxiety.”

While flashy packaging and collaborations with popular celebrities can be appealing, The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System offers a list of healthy alternatives including unsweetened tea, Hot or iced coffee and 100% fruit or vegetable juice to help consumers select a healthier drink.  

“The decisions you make now when your young are going to affect you when your older,” Dennison said. “So making those healthy decisions now will benefit you in the long run”

Story by Edie Ash