Prevalence and Reasons for Consumption of Energy Drinks among Adolescents and Young Adults in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate how frequently male and female school and university students consumed energy drinks, their reasons for drinking them, and the extent of their knowledge about the beverages.

METHODS: A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data from 4355 students (ages 12-26 years).

RESULTS: Nearly 60% of the students consumed at least one can of an energy drink per week, and 63.3% drank two to four cans per week. Code Red was the most popular brand consumed (52.8%). Thirty-nine percent of the students consumed energy drinks in the afternoon, and 68.7% drank them because they enjoyed the flavor.

CONCLUSION: More than half of the participants consumed energy drinks at least once per week. Students’ knowledge and practices regarding energy drinks need improvement so they will understand the drinks’ contents and their impacts on health. Food labels should mention the total amount of caffeine and provide clear information to consumers about appropriate limits and the risks of excessive consumption.