Chicago, ILPhysicians meeting in Chicago this week, for the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), have voted to endorse a ban on the sale of energy drinks such as Monster, to people under 18 years of age. “Energy drinks contain massive and excessive amounts of caffeine that may lead to a host of health problems in young people, including heart problems, and banning companies from marketing these products to adolescents is a common sense action that we can take to protect the health of American kids,” said AMA board member Alexander Ding, MD.
In their news release, the AMA states “Stimulant drinks have surged in popularity in recent years, especially among high school and college students, and health advocates are concerned about the use of these drinks among adolescents due to excessive amounts of caffeine.
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The FDA is continuing to investigate reports of illness, injury or death of people who drank products marketed as “energy drinks” or “energy shots.” The AMA today adopted policy supporting a ban of the marketing of high stimulant/caffeine drinks to adolescents under the age of 18.”
Hospitalizations associated with “energy drinks” like Monster Energy doubled from 2007 to 2011, hitting 20,000, according to the latest report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
“Consumption of energy drinks is a rising public health problem because medical and behavioral problems can result from excessive caffeine intake,” the report said. “A growing body of scientific evidence documents harmful health effects of energy drinks, particularly for children, adolescents and young adults.”
