Pure Energy

A recent article reports that Pediatrics (a medical journal) has found that energy drinks can be dangerous for children and teens to consume. The massive amount of caffeine, and ingredients used to enhance its effect, found in these drinks can lead to heart palpitations, strokes, seizures, and even sudden death. The authors of the report even feel these drinks should be regulated as stringently as tobacco, alcohol, and prescription drugs.
Of more than 300 cases of poisonings this year, a quarter of those included children under 6. My question? Why is anybody allowing children- who already have more energy then they themselves can contain- to drink energy drinks? That is not only irresponsible, but a form of self-torture.
I found it interesting that the senior vice president of the American Beverage Association defended energy drinks by pointing out that energy drinks contain "much less caffeine then some coffee from popular coffeehouses." Hmmm... for some reason that doesn't seem to justify its safety in my mind. I wonder if, for the most part, caffeine is a largely misunderstood drug.

As a side note, I found this article, "The Energy Drink Epidemic" in the Dec. 2008 Ensign interesting at the time it was published (I can't believe it was 2 years ago!). It is written by a doctor with the intent to educate and warn of the health effects caffeine abuse has on the body.