You might have read recently some news coverage of a new study from the Rudd Center at the University of Connecticut which claims that energy drinks are unsafe and therefore sales of these products should be restricted. This is no surprise to us as, after all, the Rudd Center has a long history of bashing beverages.

What you might not have read in the coverage of this report is that energy drinks have been enjoyed safely by millions of people around the world for more than 25 years, and in the U.S. for more than 15 years.  Energy drinks, their ingredients and labeling are regulated by the FDA, and, like most consumer products, their advertising is subject to oversight from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The Rudd report also ignores crucial data about energy drinks and caffeine consumption in the U.S.  Based on the most recent government data reported in the journal Pediatrics, children under 12 have virtually no caffeine consumption from energy drinks.

Importantly, leading energy drink manufacturers voluntarily go far beyond all federal requirements when it comes to labeling and education. In fact, ABA member companies voluntarily display total caffeine content – from all sources – on their packages along with advisory statements indicating that the product is not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women and persons sensitive to caffeine.  They also have voluntarily pledged not to market these products to children or sell them in K-12 schools.

To read more about these guidelines and more, check out the ABA Guidance on the Responsible Labeling and Marketing of Energy Drinks.