Energy drinks are really, really popular here with teenagers in Miami Beach, just like the rest of the country. Drinking Red Bull, Rockstar, or Monster is cool, cheap, and fun. In fact, it's estimated that around 50% of American teenagers drink these energy drinks daily.
Which is why it's very important to get the word out that the University of Miami has determined that these energy drinks are also dangerous for these young consumers (in an article published yesterday in the highly respected medical journal, Pediatrics.) In a study entitled, "Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults," the Miami professors warn that teenagers that consume caffeinated drinks (naming Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar) can be poisoned by an overdose of caffeine, which can be very serious. Caffeine overdoses can cause things like permanent liver damage, kidney failure, seizures, along with throwing someone into a psychotic condition and sometimes causing death.
Energy drinks can be toxic to teens, according to the study. Drinking these energy drinks can be especially dangerous if the teen already suffers from diabetes, seizures or behavioral disorders.
Meanwhile, Energy Drinks' Manufacturers Target Teens and Young Adults.
Consider this. Red Bull sponsors pro skateboarder and known partier Ryan Sheckler (who also stars in his own reality show, Life of Ryan, on MTV).
In fact, Red Bull is big into skateboarding. Check out its website for Skate Sports, with the hook, "Red Bull Skate Generation: Young Guns Meet Old Dogs." Reggie Bush also endorses Red Bull.
Lindsay Lohan was photographed with a Rockstar energy drink exiting rehab last summer. This was rumored to be a product placement, where the manufacturer paid Lohan to have a Rockstar can in hand during the photo op. Rockstar also invests heavily in sports-related endorsements and sponsorships - so many, in fact, that they are impossible to list here - and all where the majority of fans are teenagers or young adults.
Monster also uses product placement to advertise its product to younger buyers. Slash, for example, reaches for a Monster energy drink during a cameo for a music video by Fergie, "Beautiful Dangerous." (See the clips here.)
Monster is endorsed by lots of celebrities and sports stars, such as skater Greg Lutzka, skater Rob Dyrdek,skater Dorien Walker BMX Rider Rick Thorne, Jackass's star Jason "WEE MAN" Acuna, BMX Champion TJ Lavin, snowboarder Rupert Davies, former World Speedway Champion Greg Hancock, Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, IndyCar Series racecar driver Paul Tracy, Australian V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, Prodrift series drifting driver Dean Kearney, rally driver Ken Block, motocross and racecar driver Ricky Carmichael, NASCAR and offroad racing truck driver Robby Gordon, and MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi, Colin Edwards and Ben Spies.
Miami, be careful out there.
Miami, be careful out there.
These energy drinks are cheap and easily found in our community. However, Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, and other caffienated energy drinks are now proven to be dangerous - maybe deadly.
This will eventually hit the courtrooms in the form of products liability or wrongful death lawsuits where drinking these energy drinks has seriously injured or caused the death of someone young and fun-loving. Don't let that be you.
By on February 15, 2011 1:40 PM
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