Energy drinks have gotten bad press recently, with reports of deaths of young people potentially linked to their consumption. Although this seems obvious to many people that such drinks are dangerous, as they contain high dosages of caffeine, when you compare their caffeine content to regular coffee, they really are lacking in high levels that would be a concern.
For instance, a can of Red Bull has 80mg of caffeine, as compared to:
Coke 34mg
Cup of regular coffee (5 oz) 134mg
Starbucks Grande with 330mg
In the latest report of the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), caffeine amounts up to 500mg are recommended as safe to consume over a several hour period, providing a reasonable ‘caffeine speed limit’ for your children as regards safety and these beverages.
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1487123