What are energy drinks?

Energy drinks and energy shots are food supplements that typically contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, and a stimulant like caffeine, taurine, or guarana (which contains caffeine). However, they usually also contain a large array of other substances including glucuronolactone, carnitine, choline, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.), and vitamins — vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamins B3, B6, and B12. Consequently, the composition of different energy drinks and shots is highly variable. For example, the caffeine content of an energy drink can range from 45 to 400 milligrams (174±81 milligrams on average),^[1][2] while the sugar content can range from 1 to 63 grams (19.9±18.2 grams on average).^[1][2]

Energy drinks and shots are often known by their brand names — 5-hour Energy, Rockstar Energy, Red Bull, etc. — and are marketed to improve focus, increase energy, and reduce feelings of fatigue. Energy drink consumption is popular worldwide,^{[3][4][5][6][7]} especially in teenagers and young adults,^{[8][9][10][11]} and their market is huge: in 2021, the global market for energy drinks was valued at $86 billion.^[12]

Manufacturers focus their advertisement campaigns at people involved in extreme sports, esports, and people engaged in cognitively demanding work, and use brand ambassadors and sponsored athletes to “influence” engagement.^[13] However, in the face of their popularity and claimed effects, several scientists and organizations have raised awareness of the potential adverse health effects of energy drinks and shots, claiming that they’re a public health concern.^[14][15][16]