The American Academy of Pediatrics says the caffeine and stimulants in energy drinks "have no place in the diet of children and adolescents." That clinical position, laid out in the group's Pediatrics journal, still guides pediatric practice today.
The concern has sharpened as sales climb. Emergency room visits related to caffeine overdose or side effects more than doubled among middle-school children between 2017 and 2023, according to Harvard Health. Poison-control figures show a 24.2 percent jump in pediatric exposures to energy drinks in a single year, between 2022 and 2023.
The caffeine math parents rarely see
The AAP advises no caffeine at all for children under 12, and no more than 100 milligrams a day for those ages 12 to 18, according to Seattle Children's Hospital. For context, a standard cup of coffee holds roughly 100 mg.
A single can of a popular energy drink can dwarf that ceiling. Bang Energy tests at about 300 mg of caffeine per 16-ounce can, according to CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County). That is three times what the AAP considers a teenager's safe daily maximum, delivered in one drink.
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Harvard notes the range across the category is wide. Products tested by Consumer Reports contained anywhere from 6 to 242 milligrams of caffeine per serving. The FDA considers up to 400 mg daily "safe for most healthy adults," while pediatric guidance keeps teens at 100 mg or less per day.
What the caffeine does to a young body
Federal health officials describe the risks in blunt terms. Large amounts of caffeine "may cause serious heart and blood vessel problems such as heart rhythm disturbances," the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns, and the stimulant may harm children's still-developing cardiovascular and nervous systems. Reported effects include anxiety, sleep problems, digestive complaints and dehydration.
The FDA has received reports linking energy drink consumption to deaths and serious adverse reactions, including elevated blood pressure, convulsions and heart rhythm abnormalities, Harvard reports. Research also shows energy drinks can produce abnormal electrical activity in the heart for hours after they are consumed.
Sugar is a second problem. A 16-ounce energy drink can carry 54 to 62 grams of added sugar, more than a full day's recommended maximum on its own, the NCCIH says.
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What to offer instead
Pediatricians point parents toward a simpler script. Water covers hydration for almost every activity a child or teen will do in a day. For fatigue, the durable fixes are sleep, food and movement, not a stimulant designed for adults.
If a teen is already drinking energy drinks, the AAP recommendation is not to negotiate a lower dose but to remove them entirely. Parents who suspect a caffeine reaction, such as a racing heart, chest pain, tremors or fainting, should call their pediatrician, or seek emergency care in a severe case.
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This article is made and published by Emil Martesen, who may have used AI in the preparation.