PROTECT YOUNG FANS FROM ENERGY DRINKS
A Public Health Initiative Addressing Energy Drink Marketing Through College Sports That Reaches Young Fans

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Do you want your child reaching for an energy drink because they want to play like their favorite college athlete?

Should energy drinks be promoted through college sports to young fans when leading medical organizations recommend that children and teens avoid them—and that they not be marketed to youth?

If you don't want children reaching for energy drinks after watching college sports, please sign this petition.

This is not another doctor’s message encouraging a healthier diet. This is a request to help protect our children from energy-drink marketing through college sports in light of the health risks​ energy drinks pose to young people.

WHY THIS MATTERS
Energy drinks come in fruit and​ candy flavors and can be purchased by children in the U.S. They contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants that can raise blood pressure and cause an irregular or racing heartbeat, anxiety, jitteriness, and sleep disruption. In rare cases, seizures​, sudden cardiac arrest, and death have been reported.

ENERGY DRINK MARKETING REACHES YOUNG FANS OF COLLEGE SPORTS
College conferences and universities actively engage children through youth-focused activities and events, building fan loyalty from a young age—60% of 7- to 11-year-olds are fans. Energy-drink companies are increasingly sponsoring college teams, athletes, sporting events, and broadcasts viewed by children and teens. Research shows that when energy drinks are advertised with sports, youth feel like they should use energy drinks during sports, and exposure to such advertising is associated with greater energy drink use among youth. These studies do not prove that college-sports sponsorship causes minors to consume energy drinks, but they support the more limited conclusion that marketing exposure can influence attitudes and use. Youth-facing sports-themed promotion can also blur the line between sports drinks and energy drinks, creating the impression that energy drinks are appropriate for athletic performance or hydration.

WHAT CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW

“All children and adolescents should avoid consuming energy drinks.”  
— 2025 Consensus Statement (the Academy, AAPD, AAP, & AHA)

• Energy drinks pose documented​ health risks to children and teens.
• For hydration, water is best for most activity; caffeine-free sports/electrolyte drinks may be used for prolonged activity or in significant heat. Energy drinks should not be consumed before, during, or after sports or exercise regardless of health and fitness level. 
• Pediatricians advise that children under age 12 avoid caffeine, while adolescents (ages 12–18) limit intake to no more than 100 mg/day (about two 12 oz cans of cola). Energy drinks commonly contain 150–300 mg of caffeine per serving.

  

• Parents, coaches, athletic departments, and educators should distinguish energy drinks from sports/electrolyte drinks and discourage youth energy drink use.
• Seek emergency care for palpitations, chest pain, fainting, or seizures after consumption of energy drinks.

Water or caffeine-free sports drinks for hydration.
Never energy drinks.

OUR CLEAR ASK
We are not asking to ban energy drinks or restrict adult choices. We respectfully ask the NCAA, athletic conferences, universities, broadcasters, and other relevant sports organizations to:

1.  Review the health risks. Bring together independent experts in children’s health, heart health, sports medicine, and public health to review energy-drink marketing through college sports viewed by young fans.

2.  Pause energy-drink promotions that are likely to reach young fans while that review takes place—especially branding on uniforms and playing surfaces and promotions through youth activities, broadcasts, and social media.

3. Adopt clear standards for energy-drink sponsorships and advertising that recognize that children and teens are part of the college-sports audience.

4. Teach young athletes and fans what to drink for hydration: water first; caffeine-free sports drinks when needed—never energy drinks.

We are asking college sports organizations to recognize that children and teens are part of their audience and to follow the recommendations of leading medical organizations by avoiding the marketing of energy drinks through college sports to young fans.

FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN AND TEENS, PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE.

Additional Resources:

• Learn More: The leading medical, sports, and nutrition organizations' statements on energy drinks and youth → Click Here
• Real-Life Stories: Energy Drink related Medical Emergencies → Click Here
• College Students: Do energy drinks really help you perform your best? → Click Here

This petition was developed by physicians and public-health advocates relying on peer-reviewed medical literature and recommendations from leading pediatric, cardiology, and sports-medicine organizations. It is intended to encourage responsible sponsorship policy and is not individual medical advice. It does not allege wrongdoing or improper conduct by Monster Energy, Celsius, or any other person, company, or organization. Rather, it addresses broader pediatric public-health concerns about youth-facing, sports-themed promotion within the energy-drink category.