The Senator is proposing legislation that will ban the sale of any caffeinated beverage with more than 5mg of caffeine per fluid ounce except for coffee to those 15 or younger. Adley is concerned about the health risks these drinks impose on children and wants it to stop in his state.

We have already been receiving some emails about teens being carded at certain convenience stores around the country so could this be a trend starting? I think the problem is greatly exaggerated and a couple irresponsible teens are ruining the enjoyment of energy drinks for everyone. Many teens use energy drinks as a way to cope with their demanding schedules including; school, sports, homework etc. that society has placed on them in the first place.

Why not focus energies on curbing underage drinking which causes way more casualties in one day than energy drinks have caused in their entire existence. Not even to the mention the fact that the USA is becoming a lot less like the “land of the free” and a lot more like a “nanny state.”

We haven’t reviewed AMP Energy Juice yet, but will be doing so soon. This drink is cool because it’s 100% juice with the added energy ingredients of AMP, so it could make a great replacement for your boring orange juice in the mornings.

AMP Energy Juice comes in two flavors; Orange and Mixed Berry.

Here’s what you can win

• 2 bottles of Amp Energy Juice
• An AMP Beanie with built in headphones

Here’s how you enter

Simply follow us on Twitter and Retweet our contest Tweet to your followers. If you’re already a follower then just Retweet.  If you’re on our followers list and our Retweet list then your name could be randomly chosen to win the AMP Energy Juice Prize Pack.

The contest will run for 3 days starting on March 8, 2010 and ending on March 10, 2010. The winner will be notified via a Twitter direct message no later than Friday, March 12, 2010.

You must be a resident of the USA to be eligible to win.

Happy Tweeting and good luck. Thanks to AMP Energy Juice for making this giveaway possible!

Dakota Sailor came home from school and decided he would throw back not one, but two cans of NOS Energy Drink. That is the last thing he remembers as his parents found him unconscious on the sofa aspirating. He was rushed to the hospital and recovered a few days later.

The doctors ran various tests, but concluded that it was probably the energy drink that was the culprit in this incident. The doctors said that  high doses of caffeine could have caused his seizure. Checking out the Caffeine Database, we see that NOS has 260 milligrams of caffeine per can so that puts Sailor at 520mg of caffeine from NOS plus he admitted to having additional caffeine earlier in the day.

Normally, this amount of caffeine isn’t anywhere near a toxic amount. According to Death by Caffeine it would take around 45 cans of NOS to send you packing for the afterlife, but everyone is different and some are more sensitive to caffeine than others. The teen obviously had a reaction to something.

The problem here is that this will just be used as further evidence that energy drinks are bad even though this teen did not responsibly drink the product and heed the warnings clearly printed on the NOS can. It isn’t the energy drink’s fault he had this reaction if he didn’t follow the recommended dosage.

Look at it this way. If a teen went into a Walmart and bought a bottle of ibuprofen and took 20 of them instead of the recommended 2 tablets, no one would blame the ibuprofen company, however, in this case most will blame the energy drink instead of the irresponsible actions of Sailor. Energy drinks have powerful ingredients in them and need to be treated and drunk responsibly. Parents need to be aware of what their kids are drinking and what they are spending their money on.

Part of the reason this site exists is to educate the consumer about the caffeine levels of the hundreds of products that are out there. So please don’t blame NOS or energy drinks for this unfortunate incident and hopefully this event will give this kid a new respect for the products.

Source: The Joplin Globe

Hello, I just wanted to take a minute here to brag about an energy drink collector’s dream find.

As I do every year, a couple weeks ago I went to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI. I walked up to a glass front vending machine filled with custom Mazda energy drinks, tucked away in Mazda’s booth. After barbarically pounding at the buttons without result, I noticed a long line of people off to the side.

I asked some questions, jumped in line, and met some lady who wanted my contact information, undoubtedly to spam my email with Mazda promotions I could care less about. So, as John Conner (jconner@gmail.com, naturally), I played her game and was given a special ticket for the vending machine. 20 seconds later… WOOT! It truly made my weekend, given the sad turnout at the show.

Written by Dusty Smith

Editor’s note: Apparently if you hold the can up or download a picture of the can and hold it up in front of your webcam, it’s supposed to give you a virtual joyride in the New Mazda 2. Try it and let us know, I don’t want to waste ink…..Maybe Dusty didn’t realize he had a key to unlock the marvels of Mazda?

Coffee is embraced while energy drinks are shunned, banned, and protested. What gives? Something that just stirred the pot for me was the recent news of Top Sail High School in North Carolina, USA opening a student run campus coffee shop where students can get coffee before and after school.

Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great idea and a way for students to learn about business, economics, making coffee, customer service, cooking etc. but what bugs me is the double standard that this coffee shop represents.

Could you imagine what would have happened if the students wanted to open an energy drink stand before or after school? There would have been public outcry, angry phone calls, and headlines on CNN about schools poisoning their students. However, a coffee shop opening gets commended and will no doubt start a new trend.

As our caffeine database shows, ounce per ounce coffee has more! caffeine. For instance, a fluid ounce of filter coffee has 18mg of caffeine while a fluid ounce of your typical Rockstar or Monster has 10mg of caffeine. Take a look at Starbucks caffeine and you see a fluid ounce of their brew has 22.5mg of caffeine. Yet coffee is accepted and energy drinks are banned.

Some would argue that it’s the other ingredients in energy drinks that makes them bad, but we say if you search, you will find that it is almost always the caffeine content of energy drinks that is criticized. As for sugar, most teens I know would drink their coffee pretty sweet so the sugar would be about equal.

Does anyone else find this coffee and energy drink double standard annoying?

Well in the case of Energy Drinks, life has mimicked some of the funny concoctions seen on TV and in the movies. Many have come and gone over the years, but here are a few that seem to have won the hearts of fans even if it is just for collector value.

Ghostbusters Ectoplasm Energy Drink

If your a fan of the 80’s classic film Ghost Busters, then you’ll love to drink the green goo residual of destroyed ghosts.

Futurama Slurm Energy Drink

Go on gettcha self Slurm and drink it up for a futuristic energy blast.

Romulan Ale Energy Drink

Here’s your chance to try the beverage that’s banned in 10 solar systems, although it might be too much energy for weak earthlings.

Flaming Moe Energy Drink

Who doesn’t love to hang out at Moe’s and drink his flaming energy creations..I wouldn’t recommend actually lighting it though.

Zombie Awake The Dead Energy Drink

Sooner or later the swine flu virus will mutate and turn everyone into walking zombies so you better stock up because they always come for you when you’re sleeping.

All of these cool products are available over at Neatorama.com so check them out. If you’ve tried any of them, let us know what you think of these TV/movie inspired energy drinks.

The alcohol-mixer scene is exploding, health science seems to have found its home in the new fast-rising functional beverage category, the organic/natural push is stronger than ever, Chaser 5-Hour has attained legendary status, and creative innovation looks to be at an all-time high.

Energy Fiend has looked back on the year, and selected some major energy drink highlights for your reading pleasure.

Tongue’s Best Friend:  NERD

To quote back to my review: “It’s Mountain Dew, it’s green Hi-C, at times it could be neither of them. It’s the 21st Century ambrosia.”  Reflecting back on the all the energy drinks released this year, we honestly cannot think of a better tasting energy drink than NERD.

Eye Candy:  Rubyy

Rubyy has to be seen in person to truly appreciate its beauty.  The construction, design, feel and artwork that one experiences when holding Rubyy just scream quality and prestige.  Even better, the artwork reacts to ultraviolet light.

Best Effort:  Guayaki

Although their drinks may not be the tastiest or most effective out there, Guayaki put an astonishing amount of work into making sure their products leave the tiniest of footprints on our planet and ecosystem.  Not only are their drinks entirely organic and natural, but they go as far as donating portions of their profit to eco-friendly causes and even utilizing special economical shipping packages.

Most Innovative:  Bull Tonik

2009 was the year of innovation for the energy drink market, making this a tough decision.  Amidst caffeinated nuts, chips, syrups, soap bars, and all the other directions pursued by innovators, Bull Tonik cranked out a great product with their effervescent tabs.  Not only is the idea a first in the market, but Bull Tonik actually executed on the idea near-flawlessly.

Most Creative:  Harcos

At first, we were ready to give this award to Blood Potion.  Then we thought, no how about Mana Potion!  No, Health Potion!  Heck, let’s just admit it; Harcos, the company behind all of these products, has a seriously over-developed right brain.

Best Performer:  NERD

Rising from the shadows cast by the likes of Wired X: B12 Rush, Fixx Extreme Ultra Shot, and Spike Shooter is the undeniably useful energy offered by NERD.  Unlike those big names known for overloading your neurons, NERD treats you to a truckload of productive energy.  Drink a can of NERD and be prepared to perform miracles.

Best Shot:  .357 Magnum

This is the first shot that miraculously struck a balance between B-vitamins and caffeine.  Chaser 5-Hour is great, but it (and the plethora of copycat B-vitamin shots out there) has one flaw: low caffeine content.  .357 Magnum saw this shortcoming and corrected.  The result?  A fast-hitting boost that smoothly fades into a natural long-lasting aferburn.

Back to the Drawing Board: Cheetah Power Surge

Cheetah was the most disappointing “energy” drink to hit the Energy Fiend blog.  The drink has all the looks of a legit energy drink with a regal cheetah commanding the label and multiple energy benefit claims.  Much to our confusion, though, there is not one ingredient in the drink known to deliver energy (which, consequently, leaves the drink with zero power).  It doesn’t even taste good.  Ya, we’re stumped too.

Most Perplexing: Big Cock

This drink could have won many awards; Funniest Name, Most Sexually Suggestive, Most Bought Drink as a gag gift for your friends…etc… It’s called Big Cock.  Right there on the label in big letters.  Big Cock.  Enough said.

CopyCat: 4Kick

Their outrageous PR statements will attempt to tell you otherwise, but 4KICK energy drink is the biggest rip-off of the year, having far too many genomes in common with Red Bull.

Brightest Future:  Rip-It

Rip-It came out of nowhere swinging hard, and there seems to be not stopping them.  Innovation is still relentlessly carrying on and it’s becoming harder and harder to see a beverage cooler not stocking Rip-It.  If they stay true to their superb price-points, there’s no stopping Rip-It from finding itself rubbing shoulders with the likes of Monster and Rockstar.

Most unique experience: Neuro Bliss

We don’t know how Neuro did it, but they managed to bottle happiness.  Bliss jumpstarts your endorphins, plasters a healthy smile on your face, and buffs up your self esteem in just minutes time.  It’s something you just have to experience for yourself!

Made its own category:  Fixx Extreme Ultra Shot Packet

Fixx went ahead and redefined the upper limits of the energy drink market.  Extreme Ultra Shot is hardly practical on almost every account, and is guaranteed to shove your innocent reality into a supercharged woodchipper.  I keep a packet in my glove box to put in the gas tank whenever the car won’t start.

2009’s Very Best:  Rockstar Punched Guava

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again:  This drink is an untouchable contender for the best energy drink of all time.  Taken together, the flavor, energy, packaging, and value of Rockstar Punched Guava make it a bonafide, full-blooded energy drink.  To everyone reading this article: your energy drink lifestyle is not whole until you have consumed a bottle of Rockstar Punched (NOT Juiced) Guava.

Written by Dusty Smith

Monster Import

• Best Energy Drink
• Best Package Innovation

Mark Hall

• Inventor of the Year (The guy behind Monster Energy)

Red Bull

• Best Marketing Campaign

Code Blue

• Best Functional Beverage
• Best Product Relaunch

Guayaki Lemon Elation

• Best New Tea
• Best Packaging Design

Red Bull Shot

• Best New Energy Shot

Celcius “On the Go”

• Best Powder/tablet Energy Product
  

There you have it folks, the best of 2009. What do you think? Do you agree with Bevnet’s decisions or do you think they’ve missed something better?

Source: Bevnet.com

As well as one for the energy fans to use as justification for drinking your beloved beverage.

Taurine, which is found in most popular energy drinks such as Red Bull has been showing very promising health benefits when it comes to heart health. First, It’s important to know that Taurine is naturally found in and produced by our bodies. The largest concentrations are found in bile, our brain, and our muscles.

Studies have shown that taurine can help lower cholesterol, increase the effectiveness of heart muscle contractions, and improve blood flow and oxygen supply to heart cells.

Taurine is found naturally in mainly meat based  products and can be taken as a supplement such as in energy drinks, up to about 3000mg per day. Any more then this just gets excreted by the kidneys. So the next time your sitting around with your friends drinking a big can of Monster, raise your cans in the air, toast, and say “here’s to our hearts!”

So what’s going on with organic energy drinks and this whole organic thing in general?

Our favorite market seems to be entirely susceptible to it and is giving in to it at an accelerating rate.  On one side, it’s a good sign showing that the market is far from stagnant, as innovation is not only continuing, but doing so alongside cultural trends.  So alright, yay for that.

On the other side, this trend is guilt-tripping us into accepting products that are often inferior to others.  I’ve made it no secret in my past reviews that I harbor routinely low expectations for organic energy drinks.  You may not know this, but it’s something of a miracle to stumble on an organic energy drink that is even remotely palatable, let alone energizing.  I would go so far as to categorize some of my past organic energy drink experiences as inhumane.

The trade off here is that one could argue that we’re also inhumane to ourselves for consuming iffy artificial ingredients, and inhumane to our environment by becoming dependent on man-made substitutes.  Wow, that’s a tuffy.  Shall we punish ourselves with sensory assaults, or with restless nights disrupted by an overflow of guilt for not being progressive consumers?

My suggestion?  Let capitalism work its magic.  Go ahead and give your conscience a good rub-down: buy organic products such as energy drinks.  BUT, if the product sucks, for God sakes admit it and accept it.  Trust me, there are great organic products out there.  I’m reviewing one of them right now in fact.

The worst thing you can do, though, is jump up on your CFC-free soap box made of recycled everything and claim that the product deserves all the praise in the world.  Because, you know what?  It doesn’t.  I firmly believe that organic energy drinks can be stellar, but the only way they’re all going to be great is if we openly embrace the great ones – and bravely dismiss the horrible ones.

Is anybody with me on this tough love crusade?  Am I completely wrong and idiotic?  Hit up the comments!