Energy drinks' benefits and bad reputation are two sides of the same coin

Most of the news related to energy drinks tends to focus on death incidents or dangers, with little to no good news. The conclusion in most of these negative news reports is often that the "exact cause is unknown."

It is true that excessive short-term caffeine consumption can negatively affect the body, but this is not specific to energy drinks—it also applies to coffee and other drinks. Excessive sugar intake can also lead to health issues, just like in carbonated soft drinks. Given that both caffeine and sugar can be consumed in large quantities, it’s clear that overconsumption should be avoided.

Except for a few special energy drinks, 99% of energy drinks are just regular soft drinks. The ingredients in the energy blend, other than caffeine, are in very small amounts, and their effects are barely noticeable. (There is a significant placebo effect, however.)

Yet, some people still try to link energy drinks to certain effects, recommending them for specific situations, which is misleading. The more they emphasize how effective energy drinks are, the more likely it is that people will misunderstand and think "if it’s that effective, there might be some side effects or negative consequences." This is irresponsible.

Recently, I feel that more energy drink enthusiasts in Japan are saying, "Don’t unnecessarily link energy drinks to certain effects." Also, when it comes to choosing an energy drink, people seem to choose based more on image and taste rather than the listed ingredients or health claims. However, this trend is mostly seen among enthusiasts, and in general, the public still perceives energy drinks as something special or unique due to the product name itself.

In that context, if a product starts heavily promoting its effects or ingredient functions, it’s important to be cautious. That product might actually be dangerous.