Energy Drinks and Kids: What Every Parent Needs to Know

If you have a tween or teen, then chances are you’ve probably had energy drinks in your house. The drinks are more popular than ever among young people in part due to their brightly colored packaging, celebrity endorsements and promise of enhanced athletic performance. But should your kid be drinking them?

Sports medicine physician Xander Arwand, DO, with Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, says energy drinks are not meant for kids.

“Some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as four cups of coffee,” Dr. Arwand says. “Caffeine can cause multiple health issues in kids under 18, including anxiety, tremors and heart palpitations.”

While you may find them in the same area at the store, sports drinks are not the same thing as energy drinks.

Sports drinks are designed for athletes who need to rehydrate quickly during intense workouts. They contain water, sugar and electrolytes to replace fluids lost through sweat. Energy drinks are meant to boost alertness and energy. They generally contain caffeine, but also may include vitamins and other herbal additives.

It’s important to note that some brands make both a sports drink and an energy drink. It can be easy to confuse the two when purchasing them. Make sure you check the label. By law, companies have to reveal the amount of caffeine in beverages.

While kids often don’t need sports drinks, Dr. Arwand says they are better than energy drinks. “Water is the best option to keep kids hydrated, but sports drinks can be beneficial for kids who participate in long or intense workouts,” he says.

Many adults can ingest small amounts of caffeine without experiencing any side effects. However, caffeine affects kids differently. Even small amounts of caffeine can cause a range of side effects. Dr. Arwand says some of the main health risks kids may have from drinking caffeinated energy drinks include:

• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations
• Insomnia
• Frequent urination
• Increased blood sugar

Dr. Arwand also warns that kids can become reliant on caffeine. “Drinking caffeinated energy drinks regularly can lead to a caffeine dependency with withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability and flu-like symptoms if they don’t have caffeine,” Dr. Arwand says.

Energy drinks often lure young athletes because they promise to boost sports performance, but Dr. Arwand says energy drinks can have the opposite effect on kids. “Caffeine is a stimulant and can cause young athletes to experience irregular heartbeat, tremors and difficulty with fine motor control during athletic performance,” he says.

Dr. Arwand suggests young athletes always hydrate with plenty of water before drinking anything else. If your young athlete feels they need more energy for practices and competitions, he has a few suggestions.

• Eat more – If your child is playing a sport they may need to increase the amount they eat. Eating regular meals and nutritious snacks can boost energy.
• Stay hydrated – Dehydration can cause your young athlete to feel fatigued and affect their performance. Water is the best option, but sports drinks may be appropriate for long practice days.
• Get enough sleep – Most tweens and teens need anywhere from 8-12 hours of sleep, but many admit they don’t get that much.