Agreed for sure. People should be informed, but the problem with all the FDA-style warnings is that they actually have the opposite effect–people consume more because of the warnings. Cigarette warnings are the epitome of the opposite effect.

But, education has to start somewhere and people should be informed as to the effects of that much caffeine or other potentially harmful substances.

Thanks for the article. Pretty interesting and alarming information in there. Some of those obscure drinks (most of which I’ve never even heard of) are pretty ridiculous in their caffeine content. Based on that article, I think the FDA should tighten things up, at least on what minors are allowed to drink. Over age 18, or 21 as the case may be, I personally think that people should be able to make *informed* decisions as to what they consume. Again something the FDA could weigh in on by providing better labeling requirements. I tend not to believe the government should be in the business of protecting informed adults from themselves, but current information as to the harmful effects of such substances are key. Good discussion.

http://www.feedthehabit.com/johnsHopkinsEnergyDrinks.pdf

It makes the suggestions of caffeine intoxication, the dangers of caffeine and alcohol and its potential as a gateway drug.

My concern is that as kids become addicted to caffeine (and high levels at that), their dependence upon it becomes a difficult addiction to kick. Caffeine withdrawals suck… no question about it.

I haven’t read up on caffeine’s ability to metabolize fat… pretty cool. I just know that when I ingest caffeinated GU, Gels, etc., it gives me the jitters.

If you’re OK with it… no worries. My biggest concern are all the kids I see wandering around with 32 oz. Rockstars and the like on a regular basis. As you say, all the sugar and other chemicals besides caffeine can’t be good to drink on a regular basis.

I appreciate your thoughts on this. It’s not black and white.

Personally, as somebody who was in high school when Red Bull first started showing up, I drank it from time to time in HS and college when I was studying, but never considered it a serious energy supplement for exercise. I didn’t drink it before track or XC practice, in HS or college. I don’t know anybody who did drink it for that purpose either, because even at the HS level, we knew that stuff wasn’t actually formulated to aid athletic performance.

The reason caffeine is in GU is that for some people it helps to metabolize fat during endurance activities: http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/caffeine.html It gives you a caffeine kick, sure, but that’s not its primary function in energy gels. Is it for everybody? Probably not. But I know that it personally works well for me when I’m on a long trail run or BC skiing outing.

If it didn’t help in such activities, you wouldn’t see high level marathoners (read: people that do their homework on this stuff) using it.

I write this as somebody who during grad school finals might drink 2-3 cups of coffee/day, but on most days I might have one, if that. On occasion I’ll drink RB or some other energy drink while I’m studying or driving long distances.

Incidentally, I’m very skeptical of your mild suggestion that caffeine is a “gateway drug” unless you have something to back that up.

Just some thoughts.