Doctors warn energy drinks pose risks to children

Doctors are renewing warnings about the risks energy drinks pose to children and teenagers, citing their high caffeine content and potential to cause serious health problems.

The warning comes after a newly formed coalition of doctors urged the Big 12 Conference to pause its sponsorship deal with Monster Energy and called on the NCAA to review energy drink marketing aimed at young people.

The doctors cited the deaths of three children, including 16-year-old South Carolina student Davis Cripe, who died in 2017 after consuming an energy drink.

“He chugged an energy drink — like, just trying to be cool,” Davis' father, Sean Cripe, recalled.

Doctors say excessive caffeine can cause abnormal heart rhythms, increased heart rate, sleep problems, dehydration, agitation, high blood pressure and seizures. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and teens avoid energy drinks altogether.

A federally funded Monitoring the Future survey found that 23 percent of 12th graders, 20 percent of 10th graders and 18 percent of eighth graders reported consuming energy drinks daily.

Depending on the product, a serving can contain 80 to 300 milligrams of caffeine. The pediatrics academy recommends limiting caffeine to 100 milligrams a day for those aged 12 to 18, while younger children are discouraged from consuming caffeine.

Dr. Matthew Nelson, an Idaho cardiologist involved in the campaign, said energy drink sponsorships could make children mistake the products for sports drinks.

“The kids will think of them as sports drinks, which they’re not,” he said.

Dr. Tamara Hannon, an Indiana pediatrician, said caffeine and other stimulants increase heart rate and nervous system activity, potentially overwhelming the body.

Children with conditions such as high blood pressure face greater risks, but excessive stimulant intake can also harm otherwise healthy children, including athletes.

Davis had no known heart condition and had consumed a Mountain Dew and a McDonald's latte earlier that day before drinking the energy drink and suffering an arrhythmia, according to the coroner.

“We didn’t understand they could be deadly,” Sean Cripe said.

The American Beverage Association said its members voluntarily disclose caffeine levels on labels and do not sell or market energy drinks in K-12 schools. Monster said more than 100 billion energy drinks have been sold and safely consumed worldwide over more than 30 years.

The Big 12-Monster deal includes the company's logo on football and basketball jerseys, fields and courts, as well as digital and social media platforms.

The NCAA said it lacks authority over conference and school sponsorship agreements but provides educational resources on caffeine and student-athlete health.

Health officials advise parents, teachers and coaches to educate children about excessive caffeine and the difference between energy drinks and sports drinks, which are designed to replace fluids and electrolytes lost during exercise.

“We just pray parents will use our stories, our tragedies, our grief, to have an impact on their own kids,” Cripe said.