0515-‘Energy drinks harmful to health’

Coca-Cola and Lotte Chilsung are trying hard to repair their damaged reputations with new energy drinks containing less caffeine.

They claim their energy drinks no longer pose a health risk, citing a significantly-reduced caffeine content. Yet medical experts refute this, arguing the reduction doesn’t guarantee the products’ safety.

They claim caffeine-blended energy drinks are “still hazardous” and the risk is particularly high for pregnant women, children and the elderly. They added habitual consumers of energy drinks have higher risk of caffeine addiction, arrhythmia and even spasms.

“Caffeine consumption, no matter how small the amount may be, can have various negative impacts on your health,” said Dr. Park Kyung-hee of the Hallym University Medical Center. “The risk is particularly high for pregnant women, children and old people.” Park said energy drinks make consumers feel energetic deep into the night, and this eventually badly affects their heart and immune system.

Coca Cola, the world’s largest beverage maker, relaunched its “Burn Intense” energy drink early last month in Korea, dropping its caffeine content to 30 milligrams from the previous 80 milligrams per 250-milliliter can. Lotte prompted a similar move in November by halving the caffeine content of its “Hot 6” to 30 milligrams.

The world’s best selling energy drink “Red Bull” has a caffeine content of 62 milligrams.

There are 15 energy drink brands available in Korea. Among the seven imported labels, “Java Monster Kona Blend” from the U.S. contains the highest caffeine content of 207 milligrams in a 325-mililiter can. That is more than half the safe limit of 400 milligrams for an adult, which is far lower for pregnant women, children and the elderly, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. A 14-year-old boy died of a heart attack in December 2011 in Maryland, U.S., after drinking a Monster-branded drink.


“Our energy drink is not risky at all,” a Lotte spokesman said. “We made the reduction only in response to public worries. There is no finding that Hot 6 was linked to any health trouble of consumers.” The spokesman said the new products will help the company expand its customer base to those who don’t consume energy drinks for health concerns.