Media coverage swarmed around the caffeine and alcohol hybrid drink Four Loko after several deaths college students drinking too much. This past November, the company said that it would remove the caffeine from its formulas. Although tragic, the events highlighted numerous problems revolving around intensely caffeinated beverages.
The days where people relied on soda and coffee for a quick energy boost are long gone. A slew a highly caffeinated energy drinks dominate consumer purchasing in our constantly moving society dominated by extremes.
While a can of soda contains around 30 mg of caffeine and coffee roughly 100 mg, drinks like Red Bull, 5-hour Energy, Cocaine and Boo Koo contain up to 360 mg of caffeine.
It’s public knowledge that consuming too much caffeine can be detrimental to a person’s health. Although most of the energy drinks currently contain whopping amounts of caffeine, many of them are loaded with additives, amino acids, sodium and ingredients that could have adverse effects if mixed in high doses.
A two-ounce shot of 5-Hour Energy not only contains 183 mg of caffeine, but also 30mg (150% daily value) of Niacin, 40mg (2000% Daily value) of Vitamin B6 and 500mcg (8333% Daily Value) of Vitamin B12.
