It seems Alcoholic energy drinks (premixed) are on the chopping block this time. I know the FDA thinks they are on a mission to save human kind and all, but this measure seems a little silly to me.

Alcohol/ Energy drink hybrids were born out of the already popular Red Bull mixed drinks. Companies just decided to premix what was being highly demanded in clubs and bars. On energy fiend we’ve already covered this debate on how caffeine allows people to drink more, but I would argue people have always done a good job of drinking more with or without caffeine.

Besides, people can still order a Red Bull and Vodka at the club or still mix the two at home, so the only thing this will eliminate is convenience. America is becoming such a nanny state who seems to focus on these petty issues when a blind eye is turned to the real problems facing American society.

The whole controversy stems over the fact that teens are consuming these hybrid energy drinks……. So call me crazy, but shouldn’t the focus be on how these teens are getting alcoholic energy drinks in the first place? Once again punishing all of society for the irresponsible actions of a few.

Sin Vitality Drinks are launching this weekend at Halloween Parties throughout Hoboken. They promise it will be a night where “Sin takes over”.

Sin Drinks are made by Next Generation Beverages and they have committed the Sins of Greed, Envy, and Lust now, but plan to commit Wrath, Pride, Gluttony, and Sloth soon.

I’m not sure what the marketing dept. is shooting for with these sinful indulgences? Are they trying to appeal to people’s dark side, thinking that people will want to drink these because it will make them feel like a bad ass? Or are they hoping the fundamental Christians will spot these drinks as a threat to everything Christian and cause a ruckus which equals free press?

Not sure, but this has worked before with products like Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code. Instead of Christians destroying brands like they hope, they end up propelling them to success with all the free promotion.

In any event, the drink will have to be more than novel to survive in this market so we’ll try to get our hands on some and see how they actually taste. I will, however, have them sent to Dusty because I don’t want my soul to be compromised by induldging in Sin Vitality Drinks!

Now before you riot, please consider the following……..

This study was a twelve year old’s science fair project, however, it did get published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. In his study he used Monster Energy drink and Sprite to see if there was any difference in reaction times and what not while participants played video games. The article didn’t go into great detail about the study, but that’s the gist. The kid concluded that there was no significant difference in the results of the two so therefore the effects of energy drinks are false….

Hmmm. Well, I hardly think such blanket conclusions can be made from this type of study. I mean, I can definitely tell the difference in my alertness when I have an energy drink as opposed to a Sprite.  I think the medical community is so desperate to find any negative evidence concerning energy drinks that they would publish a study completed by a 12 year old.

I’m sure the kid did a fine job, but is it the correct scope and size of a study that would be suitable for a medical journal. I don’t think testing your friends and family exactly  counts as a random unbiased test group.

So the effects of my energy drink may not cause me to react faster to kicks received in Mortal Combat, but I’m pretty sure they’ll help with that long road trip!

What is wrong with people?

Monster Energy is strong arming a poor little brewing company in Vermont.

A lawyer contacted Rock Art Brewery with a letter stating the following;

“Stop using “Vermonster” as the name of one your beers because consumers might confuse it with the energy drink.”

“Your client’s use…of VERMONSTER in connection with beer will undoubtedly create a likelihood of confusion and/or dilute the distinctive quality of Hansen’s MONSTER marks,” wrote attorney Diane Reed of the California law firm Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear.

Monster just lost some points with me. I can’t believe they would be that petty! What do you think? Participate in the poll below.

Update: Monster has withdrawn its lawsuit against Vermonster!

In fact, I’m not sure how any you energy fiends have survived this long drinking such a dangerous substance.

Here are our top 10 energy drink dangers just because we care.

1. You buy a huge can of Rockstar to help you stay awake during a road trip, then you get caught in a traffic jam, nature calls……
2. While in that traffic jam, with a bladder that’s about to burst, you decide to use the can as a port-o-pot…ouch that hole is small and sharp!
3. Attempting to crush the energy drink can on your head, you give yourself a concussion.
4. While trying to get the last energizing drops from your Venom, with your head cocked way back, you run over a furry woodland creature.
5. You thought it would be cool to shake Nitrous Monster first and when you open it, the NOS causes the cap to put your eye out.
6. You think Red Bull really does give you wings and you jump off of a building after drinking one.
7. While using the empty Amp cans for target practice you shoot your buddy’s ear off. (Note: This can be prevented by placing the can on a fence post and not your friend’s head…)
8. You hug your grandma with a V pocket rocket actually in your front pocket, she slaps you and removes you from her will.
9. You actually try to sniff Cocaine and drown.
10. You think by drinking Crunk you can actually hang out on the streets of  South Los Angeles.

If we save just one life with this list, it will be worth it! If you have any additional energy drink dangers, add them in the comments below.

This has opened the door for the marketing of Healthy Energy Drinks which are supposed to have no negative effects or actually improve the health of the consumer.

However, in this market segment scams abound and the Healthy Energy Drink Market has turned into a multi-level marketing (pyramid scheme) mecca.

These marketers then come to the comment boards here at energy fiend and try to peddle their business with statements such as “The First Healthy Energy Drink” or “Healthy, All Natural Energy” along with many other descriptions of how some new drink has changed their life. You know the drill if you’ve ever stayed up late and have been forced to watch infomercials. So here’s a list of some those so called healthy energy drinks

Multi-level Marketing Healthy Energy Drinks

• Eniva Vibe
• efusion
• Verve
• ACT
• XS Energy – Amway
• Mona-Vie
• Crave
• Jen Fe
• Hiro

These drinks are usually crammed with exotic juices or herbs and guarantees, but some can be quite expensive and the only way to get these miracle potions cheaper is to sign up as an independent distributor of these “healthy energy drinks”.  Be careful, their  sales tactics are quite powerful and MLMs have lured the best of us in at times. If it’s too good to be true, it is!

Mainstream Healthy or “Natural”  Energy Drinks

• Guru
• FRS- uses affiliate type marketing, but not MLM.
• Steaz
• Adina
• Amazon Energy
• Naked Juice Energy Smoothie

At energy fiend we would be the first to admit that most energy drinks aren’t healthy per say, but we support the notion of moderation. I think the majority of energy drink fans aren’t drinking them for the health aspect anyway. If you want to learn more about energy drink ingredients or energy drink ingredient side affects, well, we have that covered too.

The important thing is education on drinking energy drinks responsibly as well as being able to recognize a healthy energy drink scam when you see it. The only people that are getting rich selling healthy energy drinks are those at the very top of the pyramid I’m afraid.

Have you dreamed about making a homemade energy drink to your exact preferences and tastes?

Well, hopefully this article will get you started in the right direction for crafting your perfect homemade drink.

Ingredients

• A caffeine source:  anhydrous caffeine powder can also be ordered in bulk, but don’t go overboard!
• Flavorings: Try Capella Flavor Drops as they have many flavorings to choose from.
• Taurine: This can be bought as a powder or a liquid, but the powder is much cheaper.
• B vitamins: I would recommend ordering a liquid B vitamin complex.
• Glucuronolactone: This comes in powder form.
• Herbs: Now this is where you can be creative, but this can also get expensive to purchase the liquid extracts of herbs as you don’t want a salad floating in your homemade energy drink, now do you?  Suggestions; Ginseng Liquid and Ginko Biloba Liquid.
• Sweetners: Here you can dissolve table sugar in some hot water or use sucralose or stevia if you want it sugar free.
• Carbonated water: You can just buy this pre-made or try making your own which is explained below.

Homemade Energy Recipe

Now here is the fun part in constructing your taylor made energy drink. Why not use a can of Rockstar or similar as your rough guide, but feel free to experiment with amounts. It would be handy to have a metric food scale on hand to measure out all the ingredients.

Be careful with the caffeine powder and probably to be safe use no more than 200g at a time unless you are a Beverage Cooler Slave. The caffeine has to be dissolved in boiling water, which would be recommended for any powders you are using in your homemade drink.

As for the carbonated water you can make your own easily by using a soda siphon and soda siphon charger cartridges. In the long run this works out cheaper than buying pre-made and you will have a fresh supply each time.

So make a concentrate using a small amount of boiling water, into which, mix in your caffeine, taurine, sugar, flavor etc.. Then add your seltzer water a little at a time until you have a great tasting ratio. You may have to make a few attempts to get your homemade energy drink just right, but hey,  that’s part of the fun, right?

Why not share your Homemade Energy Drink formula in the comments below if you think you’ve made a winner. Also if you are a homemade energy drink master, please share any tips below as well.

Disclaimer: We warned you already and if your stupid enough to make a homemade energy drink with a gram of caffeine in it, we’re not responsible for your caffeine side effects!

It hits shelves on September 28th which is today in your neck of the woods. Monster Dub is a new Grape flavored energy drink that is co-branded with DUB magazine/ show.

This new drink is marketed to custom car fans and comes in a 32 ounce resealable can, but before you get too excited it looks like it will have the same energy blend as Monster’s other editions. Monster DUB will also be featured on the National DUB show tour along with performances by Ice Cube.

Look for our review of Monster Dub Energy Drink soon, but in the meantime look for it, try it, and write your reviews below!

Source: Licensemag.com

If you happen to be a vampire and a caffeine addict, then Blood Energy Potion is for you.

Blood Energy is a Harcos product who also makes Mana Energy Potion and Health Energy Potion so it obviously has it’s roots in the gaming world or perhaps they’re taking advantage of the Twilight hype.

This is probably the most novel energy drink we’ve seen to date and we’re working to get our fangs into one so we can review it for all you energy fiend vampire want-a-bes.

Blood Energy Potion is on pre-order from Urban Collector and should be available  from January 2010 onwards. With Halloween coming up, I would have thought Harcos would have pushed to release it in October. We don’t have much information on the product other than this printed on the transfusion bag.

“Not only does Blood Energy Potion have a similar nutritional makeup to real blood, but it has the same color, look, and consistency of blood. Get real blood nutrients without that real blood taste!”

Can we all say, YUM! This is one that I’m sure glad Dusty gets to review first! See His Review Here!

Update: Harcos released this product early so head over to ThinkGeek and order some!

We need an international undercover energy drink tracker.  Not gonna lie, only the dedicated should apply, since you’ll probably die on the job.

If you think you have the dedication, we need you to prove to us that you know your energy drink labels.

Here’s a small puzzled crop from a picture of an energy drink.  Your task: Put this picture back together and identify what drink is in this photo crop?

provided by flash-gear.com

Make sure you leave your guess in the comments below and if we get a lot of entries we’ll have to have further tasks to narrow down the field of applicants.

Written by Dusty Smith