Summary of the Ban of Energy Drinks
The article speaks in defense of energy drinks. The author argues that the reason the federal government wants to ban energy drinks on teens and children is that it contains high levels of caffeine. Supposedly, caffeine is perceived as dangerous to teenagers and children. The author contends that several other products contain higher levels of caffeine than energy drinks. In the article, the author argues that energy drinks contain 80-136 milligrams of caffeine in 8 ounces. The author compares this to the 165 milligrams of caffeine in coffee in coffee shops. The author then wonders why nobody seems concerned about teenagers buying coffee, which has even higher levels of caffeine than in energy drinks.
According to the author, caffeine has more health benefits than the perceived harms. For instance, the author contends that caffeine can help people who don’t sleep enough to stay awake. Additionally, it enhances physical performance and even relieves headaches. Further, the author argues that citizens do not want politicians or the government to legislate how they should raise their children. The author goes further to say that there is insufficient evidence to support caffeine’s health effects of caffeine in energy drinks. The author then concludes that the federal government should let parents guide their children’s decisions on what to consume. Also, children should be educated on how to discriminate between good and poor nutritional choices.