Walk around any high school or college and you are sure to find energy drinks. Energy drinks are served in tall cans with bright designs and slogans designed to attract the attention of children and teenagers. But what are they? Commercials will tell people that by simply drinking them, they can stay up all night, pass a test, score with a girl and be happy. Some have even said they give you superpowers. According to advertising campaigns, energy drinks are equivalent to omnipotence in a can. But are energy drinks all they say they are? The simple answer is no. Energy drinks often turn out to be more than just sugars and caffeine, which makes energy drinks dangerous. Energy drinks cause negative side effects, such as heart problems and obesity in young Americans, and therefore the legal drinking age should be 18. Before you drink another energy drink, consider some of the ingredients. “The large amounts of sugar in energy drinks can lead to unnecessary spikes in blood sugar, dental health problems, and further weight gain.” (Readers digest editors 1). “Compare that to a popular soda and you'll find that energy drinks often contain even more sugar than a regular soda.” (Readers digest editors 1). Just one can of Monster contains over 50 grams of sugar. That's almost a quarter cup of sugar! Many health risks can arise from ingesting so much caffeine and sugar in a short period of time. People who drink energy drinks regularly notice a decrease in the amount of sleep they get each night, which has an immediate and detrimental impact on their concentration and overall health. Energy drinks contain obscene amounts of caffeine, sugar, and chemicals. A can of regular soda, such as Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper, ... middle of paper ... dangers of using energy drinks at a reasonable age would be 18 years old. These measures, if implemented, could seriously help combat the energy drink problem and reduce the amount of teenagers suffering from related health problems. “The Dangers of Energy Drinks.” Readers digest. nd 1. Print.Sadowska, Joanna. "EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF THE CONSUMPTION OF AN ENERGY DRINK ON THE CONCENTRATION OF GLUCOSE AND TRIACYLGLYCEROLS AND ON THE DEPOSITION OF FAT TISSUE. A MODEL STUDY.." 11.3 (2012): 311-318. ebsco. Network. March 11, 2014. Sara M. Seifert, MD, Judith L. Schaechter, MD, Eugene R. Hershorin, MD, Steven E. Lipshultz, MD, . “Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.” 127.3 (2011): 511-528. Google Scholar. Web. March 11, 2014."seconds count." scai. Np. Web. 11 March 2014.