Leading Medical, Nutrition, and Sports Organizations' Statements
Leading Medical, Nutrition, and Sports Organizations' Statements
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“Energy drinks are not appropriate for children and adolescents and should never be consumed.”
“Energy drinks are not appropriate for children and adolescents and should never be consumed.”
— The American Academy of Pediatrics
Schneider et al., 2011, Reaffirmed 2018, Healthy Beverage Guide 2023
Schneider et al., 2011, Reaffirmed 2018, Healthy Beverage Guide 2023
"All children and adolescents should avoid consuming energy drinks, which can contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar in a single serving as well as additional stimulants."
"All children and adolescents should avoid consuming energy drinks, which can contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar in a single serving as well as additional stimulants."
— Healthy Beverage Consumption in School-Age Children and Adolescents: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations. Consensus Statement. Healthy Eating Research; 2025.
"There is no proven safe dose of caffeine for children... Pediatricians advise against routine caffeine use for children under 12 and against any use of energy drinks for all children and teens. They also suggest limiting caffeine to at most 100 mg (about two 12 oz cans of cola) daily for those 12-18 years old."
"There is no proven safe dose of caffeine for children... Pediatricians advise against routine caffeine use for children under 12 and against any use of energy drinks for all children and teens. They also suggest limiting caffeine to at most 100 mg (about two 12 oz cans of cola) daily for those 12-18 years old."
— The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Caffeine and Children; 2026
"Energy drinks should not be marketed to nor consumed by... those younger than 18 years."
"Energy drinks should not be marketed to nor consumed by... those younger than 18 years."
"Our AMA supports a ban on the marketing of 'high stimulant/caffeine drinks' to children/adolescents under the age of 18, including opposing commercial advertising, sponsorships, and promotional practices that target or appeal to children and adolescents."
"Our AMA supports a ban on the marketing of 'high stimulant/caffeine drinks' to children/adolescents under the age of 18, including opposing commercial advertising, sponsorships, and promotional practices that target or appeal to children and adolescents."
"The AAFP opposes the sale and marketing of stimulant drinks and related products to individuals under the age of 18 in the United States of America."
"The AAFP opposes the sale and marketing of stimulant drinks and related products to individuals under the age of 18 in the United States of America."
“Advertisements that target young people are contributing to the confusion rather than effectively distinguishing between sports and energy drinks.”
“Advertisements that target young people are contributing to the confusion rather than effectively distinguishing between sports and energy drinks.”
"Energy drinks are not sports drinks and should not be used by athletes in training or competition."
"Energy drinks are not sports drinks and should not be used by athletes in training or competition."
"Student-athletes should be wary of drinks that promise an 'energy boost' because they may contain banned stimulants. In addition, using stimulants while exercising can increase the risk of cardiovascular complications.”
"Student-athletes should be wary of drinks that promise an 'energy boost' because they may contain banned stimulants. In addition, using stimulants while exercising can increase the risk of cardiovascular complications.”
"Although data on energy drinks are limited, available studies generally suggest cardiovascular harm.”
"Although data on energy drinks are limited, available studies generally suggest cardiovascular harm.”
Protect Young Fans Shareable Info Sheet
Protect Young Fans Shareable Info Sheet
Pediatric Energy Drink Public Health Info Sheet - Formatted - Google Docs.pdfDr. Higgins' Interview and New Review Article on Energy Drinks
Dr. Higgins' Interview and New Review Article on Energy Drinks
John P. Higgins, MD, MBA (Hons), MPHIL (Cantab), FACC, FACP, FAHA, FACSM, FASNC, FSGC
John P. Higgins, MD, MBA (Hons), MPHIL (Cantab), FACC, FACP, FAHA, FACSM, FASNC, FSGC
Dr. John P. Higgins, MD, MBA, MPhil—sports cardiologist and lead author of the American College of Sports Medicine's call to action on energy drinks—provides a review of the latest medical evidence supporting this initiative.
A new review article, Energy Drinks in Youth: Cardiovascular Risk and a Call to Action in The American Journal of Medicine by Dr. John P. Higgins, examines the cardiovascular risks energy drinks pose to young people — and directly addresses the Big 12 Conference's 2026 sponsorship agreement with Monster Energy.
Dr. Higgins outlines what he calls a "trigger-substrate-context" model: energy drinks act as a stimulant trigger that can interact with underlying, often undetected heart vulnerabilities (like unrecognized arrhythmic conditions) during high-stress conditions such as exercise, heat, dehydration, or when combined with other stimulants. While serious cardiac events remain uncommon, he points to consistent evidence of measurable changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rhythm in young people at typical energy drink doses — along with poison-center data documenting rare but serious outcomes, including a caffeine-related adolescent death.
Turning specifically to sports sponsorship, Dr. Higgins explains that when a stimulant brand appears on student-athlete uniforms and playing surfaces, it takes on the appearance of an endorsement — not just an advertisement — for the young fans watching. He recommends that the Big 12 pause youth-facing promotion of the Monster Energy partnership and commission an independent health review, calling this "an act of health leadership, not an admission of wrongdoing."
The paper closes with a call to action for four groups — clinicians, manufacturers, schools/athletic organizations, and policymakers — to take concrete, proportionate steps: standardized clinical screening, transparent caffeine labeling, independent sponsorship review standards, and improved adverse-event surveillance.
3 Energy Drinks in Youth-Higgins AJM 2026 Aug 5-s2.0-S0002934326005966-main.pdfCardiovascular Toxicity of Energy Drinks In Youth: A Call for Regulation
Cardiovascular Toxicity of Energy Drinks In Youth: A Call for Regulation
Dr. Vetter and Naim’s December 2024 commentary in The Journal of Pediatrics explains that energy drinks can pose cardiovascular risks to children and adolescents, including effects on blood pressure and heart rhythm, and calls for stronger regulation, clearer labeling, and restrictions on marketing to minors.
Cardiovascular Toxicity of Energy Drinks in Youth_ A Call for Regulation.pdfEnergy Drinks Policy Brief, UConn Rudd Center
Energy Drinks Policy Brief, UConn Rudd Center
Energy-Drinks-Brief-Fleming-Milici.pdfEnergy Drink Research and Health Guidance from Big 12 Universities
Energy Drink Research and Health Guidance from Big 12 Universities
Big_12_Energy_Drink_Research_Health_Guidance.pdfEnergy Drinks: What Healthy Adults Should Know
Energy Drinks: What Healthy Adults Should Know
If you are a healthy adult, an occasional energy drink is unlikely to harm you.
Keep total caffeine from all sources under 400 mg a day and under 200 mg at one time. (A strong coffee is roughly 100–150 mg; energy drinks commonly contain 150–300 mg per serving.)
Never mix energy drinks with alcohol.
Don't use them with exercise, in the heat, or habitually to stay awake.
Frequent or heavy use can raise blood pressure and trigger heart rhythm problems.
Energy drinks are not for children, teens, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with heart, metabolic, liver, kidney, or neurologic conditions.
Children under 12 should avoid caffeine, and 12–18 year olds should have no more than 100 mg a day (about two 12 oz sodas). Energy drinks are not safe for anyone under 18.
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