CMS Announces its Opposition to Super-Caffeinated Energy Drinks

Today the Chicago Medical Society (CMS), an organization that represents over 17,000 dedicated physicians in Cook County, announced its opposition to super-caffeinated “energy drinks” such as Red Bull, Monster Energy and Rockstar based on growing evidence that the drinks pose serious health risks—including possible fatalities—in both adults and children.

“A child or adolescent who has a pre-existing heart condition and drinks just two of these beverages runs a very real risk of having a fatal heart attack,” says Howard Axe, MD, President of the Chicago Medical Society. “Worse, these unregulated beverages are marketed directly at these young adults, most of who do not understand the health risks.”

Energy drinks can contain nearly 3.5 times the caffeine per ounce as a regular soda. In addition, other stimulants in energy drinks, such as ginseng and guarana, can enhance the effects of caffeine, making the actual caffeine consumption even greater. Adverse effects associated with extraordinary caffeine consumption include nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, increased urination, arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), and indigestion.

The drinks are also popular as alcohol mixers among young adults. Energy drinks consumed with alcohol may affect heart rates, blood pressure and even mental states. Caffeine prevents sleepiness and delays the feeling of drunkenness normally experienced when drinking alcohol, causing some people to continue drinking after they normally would have stopped.

“Because caffeine and the additional supplements in energy drinks are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration,” continues Dr. Axe, “the manufacturers of these beverages are not doing anything illegal—just highly irresponsible. It harkens back to the days when Coca-Cola contained a substance that was little understood by the public—cocaine.”

A Substance and Abuse Mental Health Services Administration report found that between 2007 and 2011, emergency room visits related to the consumption of energy drinks doubled from 10,068 to 20,793.