Common questions

Energy drinks were created more than 25 years ago. They are available in more than 165 different countries, including all European Union countries, as health authorities around the world have concluded that the ingredients in energy drinks are safe for consumption.

Typical ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine, taurine, and vitamins. Energy drinks contain about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of homemade filter coffee. In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its scientific report on ingredients in energy drinks and concluded that they are safe. More recently, on May 27, 2015, EFSA additionally established the same safe levels of caffeine consumption from any source in the diet, including energy drinks (scientific opinion on the safety of caffeine).

Energy drinks are considered normal foods and are marketed as such.

Energy drinks are non-alcoholic drinks. Despite their primarily functional purpose, some consumers mix energy drinks with alcoholic beverages. This has been going on for decades, if not centuries, in which alcoholic beverages have been mixed with cola, soda, tonic, soda, ginger ale, and all kinds of fruit juices.

There is no scientific evidence why energy drinks should not be mixed with alcohol, as long as the consumer is aware that excessive and irresponsible consumption of alcohol has undesirable consequences on the human body and behavior and that this is caused by the alcohol, not from the nonalcoholic drink used for mixing, be it cola, orange juice, tonic, or an energy drink. 

There is nothing to indicate that energy drinks cause any special effects (negative or positive) related to alcohol consumption. This has been confirmed by the British Government’s Committee on Toxicity (2012), which concluded that “the currently available evidence does not point to a harmful toxicological or behavioral interaction between caffeine and alcohol ”. More recently, the European Food Safety Authority  (EFSA, 2015also concluded that, based on available scientific evidence, there is no harmful interaction between alcohol and caffeine from any source in the diet, including energy drinks. 

In order to assume a preventive and responsible role in the debate on energy drinks and alcohol, the members of the EDE commit themselves in their code of good practice to comply with the following standards in relation to the sale and marketing of energy drinks:

  • Energy drink labels do not promote mixing with alcohol.
  • Members of the BEAL do not claim that drinking alcohol in combination with energy drinks  diminishes the effects of alcohol.
  • BEAL members do not sell beverages that are a mixture of energy drinks and alcohol. The naming  of drinks containing mixtures with alcohol as “Energy Drink” is misleading.

Energy drinks are food and are safe for human consumption. Some consumers may react with sensitivity to the ingredients of energy drinks such as coffee, sugar or different vitamins due to congenital predisposition. Some consumers are sensitive to caffeine and tend to have headaches, dizziness, insomnia, or agitation. The ingredients of energy drinks, as well as the caffeine content, are indicated on the cans of the drinks, so that consumers are sufficiently informed to decide what is best for them. 

No. Energy drinks are not addictive and do not contain any substance that creates dependency. The ingredients in energy drinks are also found in other foods. Some of its ingredients are even present in the human body naturally. This is what happens, for example, with taurine, present in shellfish and in the human body. There is unanimity on the fact that caffeine, which is also naturally present in various foods such as coffee, tea or chocolate, does not create dependence. Energy drinks contain approximately the same amount of caffeine as a cup of homemade filter coffee.

The usual energy drinks contain 32 mg of caffeine per 100 ml. Energy drinks contain about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of homemade filter coffee. 

In general, the consumption of energy drinks should be adapted to a person’s caffeine consumption. Many experts around the world have looked at the effects of caffeine. Health Canada scientists conducted extensive research of the scientific literature on caffeine (Nawrot et al., 2003). In their report they concluded that the general population of healthy adults is not exposed to any health risks from caffeine if daily consumption is limited to 400 mg. More recently, this has been confirmed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2015).

However, EFSA recommends that pregnant or lactating women limit their daily caffeine intake to 300 mg. 

The rules on the labeling of beverages containing caffeine are unified in the EU (EU regulation 1169/2011 on food information to the consumer). In drinks with a caffeine content greater than 150 mg / L, this content must be indicated and an indication must be added (“High caffeine content. Not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women”), also specifying the content of caffeine expressed in mg per 100 ml on the label.

An excessive dose or consumption of a food or drink damages health. Even water, if drunk in excessive amounts, is harmful. Nutritionists agree that it is important to consume foods and beverages from a wide variety of sources in an adequate proportion. This is also true for energy drinks, which can be part of a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, it is recommended to consume energy drinks in moderation.

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Myths and fears about energy drinks