Megan ward is a typical teenager. She works hard and plays hard. She works, studies and is a cheerleader. She got into the habit of having an energy drink to cheer her up before a class or maybe a cheerleading practice. When asked about her habit she says “I was trying to get energy in the morning, it gives me that extra boost to get me up and get me going. It wears off and then I am ready to go”
This is not unusual. Teenagers are into taking energy drinks much more than adults. According to a survey conducted by Mintel a Chicago based research firm in 2007 it was found that 30% teenagers are dependant on energy drinks an increase from the previous year when the percentage stood at 20.surprisingly only 14 % adults admitted to drinking energy drinks.
Medical professionals and school authorities are concerned. These energy drinks have caffeine and sugar and teenagers tend to mix them with alcohol which makes it more harmful. School authorities request parents to not send kids with these drinks to school. Florida has taken the initiative to ban energy drinks in Broward County schools after 4 middle school kids fell sick as a result of having these drinks. It is reported that a 16 yr old died in Palm Beach County Fla after having energy drinks mixed with alcohol. The toxicology report has yet to confirm this.
Energy drinks sometimes cause children to lose sleep, put on weight and become stressed out and restless. They are not very healthy replacements for low fat skim milk .
