Energy drinks partner with college sports, raising safety concerns for teens

Kent Sepkowitz, a professor emeritus at Weill‑Cornell Medical College, writes that energy drinks have grown into an $85‑billion global market and are now being marketed alongside college sports programs.

The drinks are being reformulated with ingredients such as ginseng, vitamins and amino acids, positioning them as wellness or sports beverages rather than simple caffeine boosters.

Sepkowitz warns that the high caffeine content and added compounds can overload teenage hearts and minds, leading to acute illness and even death, and argues that market forces alone cannot ensure safety without stronger public‑health oversight.