We’ve recently seen multiple inaccurate stories about the risk of children consuming energy drinks. KOMOnews.com (Wash.), wsiltv.com (Ill.) and WMFD.com (Ohio) have all claimed that, according to a recent study by the Cleveland Clinic, 40 percent of emergency calls related to energy drinks involve children.  Yet all three stories failed to note that the full study has not been published, which means that the researchers’ methods have not been peer-reviewed by the medical community to determine whether their work is valid.  Even so, the stories report that the authors found an “association” between energy drink consumption and emergency calls involving children.

But, what does association really prove? Not much really.  Perhaps it suggests that more research is possibly needed to find out if there is maybe something of concern – or not.  Did that leave you more confused?  It should.  Because thinking that association shows that one thing causes another is like saying carrying an umbrella to work will make it rain. Coincidence?  Sounds like it to us.

So, why jump to conclusions based on unknown information, when there are real facts available that state that children are not consuming these drinks in large quantities, if at all? According to the most recent government data reported in the journal Pediatrics, children under 12 have virtually no caffeine consumption from energy drinks. Even so, our 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. These guidelines and more are noted in the ABA Guidance on the Responsible Labeling and Marketing of Energy Drinks.

So instead of taking in the hype, these are the facts you need to know.  Children just aren’t drinking energy drinks.  And energy drink companies don’t intend for them to do so either.

Looking for more facts about energy drinks? Visit EnergyDrinkInformation.com.