Energy drinks are hazardous to health

Doctors warn: Energy drinks endanger health

29/12/2014

They are regarded as performance-enhancing and as a wake-up agent. However, the warnings of medical professionals are increasing in front of the dangers of the mostly weird sweet drinks. Especially for teenagers and in combination with alcohol, they pose a risk.

New Year's Eve sales are expected to boom again, then large amounts of energy drinks mixed with vodka and consumed. Sales have been rising for years. And there are more and more voices, which warn of the dangers that come from the drinks. Thus, in addition to consumer advocates and doctors, the WHO has recently called for a ban on the sale of drinks to young people. Lithuania has now fulfilled this requirement as the first nation, where no energy drinks can be sold to minors. The reason was that children and adolescents were particularly sensitive to caffeine. Even in adults, overdose leads to palpitations, hypertension, nausea and vomiting.

High caffeine content in the drink
Up to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day and adult are safe, according to doctors. This corresponds to about 4 energy drinks a 250 ml or eight cups of coffee. However, the situation changes abruptly when alcohol comes into play. Approximately One in two consumers drinks their energy drink with alcohol, according to the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) in a recent study. There are even voices blaming the mix of energy drinks and high percentages for deaths. "The association is there, but the connection could not be proven causally," says Anke Ehlers of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). "The health risk is not that someone occasionally drinks a can, but especially in the high consumption, and especially in connection with exercise or alcohol."

A 2014 survey conducted by BfR for the first time, which surveyed 500 consumers, found that up to one liter of the alcohol-energy drink mixture was consumed per person during a disco night, so-called LANPATHS, whose participants spent up to 48 hours are awake, even up to five liters. „Energy drinks mixed with non-alcoholic drinks were virtually irrelevant and were consumed by virtually no one.“ Consumers are mainly men between 20 and 25 years. The motive for high consumption is the desire to stay awake and efficient. "The problem awareness is not there and consumption recommendations are ignored," said Ehlers.

Cardiologists warn
With increasing concern cardiologists consider the consumption. Heart patients and children are completely discouraged from consuming drinks. In some cases, excessive consumption in children is said to have triggered heart muscle disease. According to Efsa, one in five people between the ages of 8 and 10 has already drunk one energy drink in Germany and some even drink four to five cans a week. One consequence is that since mid-December major warnings on the packaging are mandatory. Whether children and adolescents read this is only one question. The other question is whether they also heed this. Because sweet, chilled shower drinks much easier, such as hot and bitter coffee.

Meanwhile, the producers point out that their drinks are fully authorized in most countries because they are harmless. Market leader Red Bull said, "Energy drinks have been marketed in more than 165 countries for over 25 years, as health authorities around the world have come to the conclusion that they are safe to eat." However, the company has recently suffered a severe defeat in front of an American court. This condemned the group to $ 13 million in damages for misleading advertising. A consumer had the slogan „Red Bull gives wings“ probably taken too literally and „disappointed“ complained. (Jp)