Doctors Warn Against Energy Drink Risks for Children Amid College Sports Sponsorships
A newly formed coalition of doctors is raising alarms about the health risks energy drinks pose to children, particularly in light of a sponsorship deal between Monster Energy and the Big 12 Conference college athletic organization. The doctors are urging conference leaders to pause the sponsorship and the NCAA to review energy drink marketing to youth, citing instances of children's deaths linked to high caffeine consumption, including a 16-year-old from South Carolina. Medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children and teens avoid energy drinks entirely due to high caffeine levels that can cause abnormal heartbeats, increased heart rate, sleep disturbances, and seizures. Despite these warnings, federal surveys indicate significant consumption among middle and high school students.
