As you reach into the fridge for a Monster Energy drink after a long night of homework and studying with a full three hours of sleep, all that crosses your fuzzy mind is how this is going to give you the energy you need to get through the day. 

So… Why drink them?

Despite the drawbacks, the popularity of energy drinks is only increasing. Some big factors include convenience and availability, not to mention price.

“I like most kinds, mainly Monster and Celsius.” Comunale said. “I like these ones because Celsius is really inexpensive and 7-Eleven has good deals, [and] it’s much less expensive than coffee.”

The sheer availability of these drinks is a huge draw for many. Stores everywhere carry brands like Celsius, even ones that say they are “farmer’s markets.” 

At grocery stores such as Aldi, a pre-packaged 12-ounce coffee can cost about $2.95, whereas a Celsius is a dollar cheaper. In the minds of teenagers, that is a hard-earned dollar they are not willing to spend for what is essentially another form of caffeine.

“[Coffee] gives me a headache. But other caffeinated things, they’re not as hard on you. And I think energy drinks taste good,” sophomore Lily Mallinson said. 

But convenience is not the only factor that draws people in. Energy drinks fit the bill when it comes to choosing an “attractive” drink with bright, eye-catching colors. 

“They’re nice, and a lot of the aesthetic comes from the container itself,” Mallinson said

Students often say they do not look at the ingredients; they just want a cheap and easy way to wake up and get through the school day. While they offer a quick fix and look cool now, it is worth considering the potential long-term effects on health.

Artificial colors: The role of dyes

In visualizing an Alani Pink Slush energy drink, a sweet, slightly sticky and very pink liquid will likely come to mind. Many do not stop to consider, however, what these artificial colors can do to their bodies.

Instead of stating that the product includes artificial colors, Monster Energy (a popular brand with teens) simply says “colors.”

What are “artificial colors” though? Artificial colorings used in food are actually petroleum-derived synthetic colors. In simple terms, they are colors taken out of petroleum through chemical processes. Petroleum is crude oil, or a type of fossil fuel made up of the remains of ancient plants and animals under intense pressure underground. The availability and low price point of these colors make them appealing to many manufacturers for products. 

Their appeal to manufacturers is not the only reason many companies use them. The color of food has been shown to heavily influence people’s desire to consume it. This subconscious draw to bright, vibrant colors, is a huge draw for artificially colored foods and beverages, like the neon pink Alanis or other popular varieties of energy drinks.  

Red Dye 40, the source of many energy drinks’ signature neon red or pink colors, is one of the most common artificial colors used in food and drinks, though it has been a highly controversial food additive for many years. This is mainly because it has been linked to several side effects. In fact, the E.U. has banned several varieties of artificial dyes, with Red Dye 40 at the top of their list. 

Artificial Sugars Pack a Punch

Sugar replacements are enticing for numerous reasons, one of the biggest being their heavily advertised all-the-taste drinks with none of the calories. But there are two sides to the coin. 

Fake sugars like sucralose (or Splenda) and others listed on ingredient labels are a cause for concern, experts believe. Research has shown that in high doses, these artificial sweeteners can increase the risk of cancer and increase insulin levels, potentially leading to glucose intolerance and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Labels can be confusing to anyone, even if a consumer is trying to be more health conscious. Sugar or substitutes can be called other things such as maltodextrin, sucralose or dextrose.

In Monster energy, for instance, the manufacturer lists the ingredient sucrose. Sucrose is a fancier, more scientific way to say table sugar, which, in excess, can lead to health issues like weight gain, insulin resistance, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. 

“[Artificial sweetener] signals your insulin, which causes an unhealthy weight gain,” Anatomy and Physiology teacher Brandi Malkovich said. “[A] huge percent of young kids are getting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. And you don’t really know that until you look at the liver function, but a lot of that [happens] from the sugar, and the fake sugars.”

While these effects will likely be seen farther down the road, rather than in the immediate future, they are still a key ingredient to be taken into account when thinking about the health effects as a whole.

Long Term Effects

There are many draws to drink energy drinks. The grueling school life of a teenager is filled with late nights, early mornings and heaps and heaps of homework, but what can these short term solutions do in the long run?

The acidity and sugar content of many drinks, especially when consumed regularly, can weaken the enamel of the teeth, making consumers more vulnerable to disease, sensitivity, cavities and gum recession. Moreover, a dependence on them can bring harsh symptoms. These often result from the cycle of withdrawal, in which it is possible to face headaches, fatigue, depressed mood, and more.

The Rush and the Crash: Understanding Caffeine

Caffeine content is another critical health factor, and also the most known and craved ingredient in energy drinks. But what does it actually do to people’s bodies?

In energy drinks like Monster, which contain 160 milligrams per 16-ounce can, caffeine acts as a stimulant that enhances alertness and cognitive function. However, too much caffeine can cause an increased heart rate, heart palpitations and high blood pressure, and lead to anxiety, sleep problems and dehydration. 

“It literally just goes right into your urinary tract.” Malkovich said. “You have to pee a lot, and that makes you release a lot of other electrolytes and water and then not to mention the effect it has on your heart.”

However, caffeine is the draw point for most drinks, and with early school times, late study nights and heaps of homework, many students reach for them. 

“I don’t pay too much attention to the ingredients, I just have whatever. [It’s] cost-based. It’s so hard to wake up in the morning,” junior Mia Comunale said.

Overall, the stressful life of teenagers in high school will not slow down, while the ingredients and their effects may be somewhat negative, the trend does not seem to be slowing down either.