Energy drinks have taken the world by storm. Their larger perception is that they help give users some ‘energy,’ which might not always be the case as we are about to see. According to Allied Markets Research, the world’s energy drink market size was at $45.80 billion by 20220, and there was a projection that this might go up to $108.40 billion as we hit 2031.

When making energy drinks, manufacturers use highly potent stimulants, mainly guarana, ginseng, taurine and caffeine, and others, hoping to enhance mental alertness. They are common among people who work long hours, such as truck drivers, strained machine operators, hotel attendants, and medics. All manufacturers of energy drinks advance the idea that their drinks can generate instant Energy. Many people are unaware there could be serious negative implications if you use it for a long time. This article aims to enlighten you on the ten worst energy drinks in the world.

10. Redline

Redline is manufactured by Vital Pharmaceuticals, the same company that produces Bang, and it was released to the market in 2012. It sells under the tagline “Fuel Your Destiny.” When introducing the drink, the company said it was meant for weight loss. Users have reported that they experience shaking and shivering effects when taking it. The feeling has been attributed to the fact that it is meant to burn calories. However, many do not understand that calories can only be burnt through exercise or with the help of natural diet supplements. You are straining your metabolic system when using the drink to burn calories.

It is also among the most caffeinated drinks, with 300 mg of caffeine in every 2.5 ounces. You can’t claim that you are taking a healthy drink when it has 500% value in Vitamin B12-this far away from the recommended levels. To recruit more female customers, the company introduced the Redline Princes. It contains the “love drug'” chemical component that users believe enhances mood. All these chemical components affect how your body should function naturally.

9. Spike Shooter

One of the tricks used by the manufacturers of Spike Shooter is that they registered it as a supplement item, which allows them not to display the exact components of its manufacturing formula. However, independent studies have established that every can has 3000 mg of caffeine, which is very high compared to the other drinks. Due to its status as a supplement, since it is an energy drink, it takes advantage of the legal loophole that it is not required to declare whether it is safe. Nevertheless, this has not prevented the negative effects from getting out. In 2007, a high school in Colorado had to ban the drink after two students developed heart palpitations after using it.

8. Zoa

Sometimes celebrities take advantage of their fame and introduce products that have serious negative implications for their followers. Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson partnered with Dave Rienzi and Dany Garcia to produce the ZOA energy drink. According to ZOA’s management, the drink does not have preservatives, additives, and artificial ingredients. The dark side of the story is the answer to the question, why is it sweet, yet the company alleges that it is sugar-free? The answer is simple-they use Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose to make it sweeter. In every 16 oz of the drink, there is 160 mg of caffeine. It is not ranking among the worst because it contains 100% recommended levels of Niacin, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B6.

According to experts consulted by Food Network.com, the suspicion on the claim by The Rock that the drink is “clean and healthy” began the moment it did not include the percentages of the contents in its can. The other problem was the claim by Johnson that it is a replacement for a healthy means, which many health experts disagree with. The 160 mg of caffeine is equivalent to 2-3 cups of coffee, which may overwhelm some people, especially those who prefer drinks other than coffee or tea.

7. C4 Energy

The famous Cellucor company produces C4 Energy. It has been in the market since 2018. The drink is dominant in Canada, Germany, and the United States. Its producer and distributor, Cellucor, is one of the leading sports nutrition companies in the United States. You will probably get it there when you walk to the nearest gas station, grocery store, or gym. It is sold in 16 and 12 -ounce cans. When you visit the company’s website, they tell you to “ignite your fire with the C4 Energy” drink. They tell you the drink’s specific components and quantities at no point. They attempt to say it is the fastest-growing energy drink in the United States. You are not reading that its caffeine content is 200 mg every 16 oz. It does not list whether it has Vitamin B6, but it contains 250% Vitamin B12 and Niacin at 190% in every 16 oz can. In addition, they can’t risk telling you that they add Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, and Stevia Leaf Extract to sweeten the drink, for it contains zero industrial sugar.

6. Red Bull

Red Bull is the second largest energy drink in market share in the world/. It is manufactured by Rauch and distributed by Red Bull GmbH. The companies are in Australia, and it has been in the market since 1987. Red Bull drinks include Red Bull Sugar-free, Total Zero, Zero, Energy Short, and Editions. The drink uses the “Red Bull Gives You Wings” advertisement to attract its customers. It has been in the top line to support energy-related events such as the Red Bull Air Race Reb Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Through Red Bull Records, it has been supporting musicians. It invented the American market in 1996, and since then, it has grown to be a fierce competitor of the Monster energy drink. Its caffeine content is 151 mg, and its 16 oz sugar intake equivalent is 101%. It exceeds the recommended levels of Niacin by 190%, Vitamin B12 BY 160%, and Vitamin B6 by 470%. According to Healthline, it joins other energy drinks to increase your blood pressure and heart rate, damaging your teeth and possibly leading to diabetes (type 2).

5. Monster

To many, it might be surprising why we have the Monster on this list. Monster is the leading producer of the Monster Beverage Corporation. Since its introduction on April 18, 2002, it has dominated the energy drink market, with some reports indicating that it will have more than 35 % of the drinks market by 2019. It has become famous for sponsoring sports events such as the NASCAR Cup Series, BMX, MotoGP, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), among other activities.

It is also famous for sponsoring great concerts such as Strange Music, Machine Gun Kelly, Poppy, and 21 Savage. Despite all this, you may not be aware of the dark side of Monster. It contains 160 mg of caffeine and 54 grams of sugar, equivalent to 108% percent over intake of the substance, and it contains Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Niacin at excesses of 240%, 500%, and 250 %, respectively. Some of the negative effects of over intake of the Moster energy drink is that it causes heart rhythm disturbances besides causing high blood pressure due to increased heartbeats.

4. Bang

Many health institutions keep interchanging the ranking of Rockstar with Bang regarding how harmful they are. It is manufactured and distributed by Vital Pharmaceuticals. In total sales, in the United States, it only ranks following Red Bull and Monster. It is probably the energy drink whose adverts on social media are the most aggressive. It has been in the market since 2012 and comes with the tagline “Fuel Your Destiny.” When it was introduced, VPX said it was releasing an energy drink with ‘high-quality nutritional supplements, ‘It argued that this assertion had been backed by scientific research. However, they never told customers that the drink had 300 grams of caffeine and used Sucralose, artificial sugar, to sweeten the drinks.

The only truth they could have told us is that its components do not exceed the recommended values of Vitamin B6 (it is at 30 %), Vitamin B12 (it is at 60 %), and Niacin (which is at 30 %). Some of the most common negative effects of taking Bang are that it causes dizziness, and insomnia, for it has high caffeine content and increases heartbeat. It would help if you always controlled how you use it because its caffeine percentage is close to what the FDA has recommended.

3. Cocaine

Cocaine is one of the most caffeinated energy drinks. It was introduced in the market in 2006; Redux Beverages manufactured it. This has cherry and cinnamon flavors. It is marketed under the pretext that it is the “legal alternative” to cocaine. Per every can, the drink contains 280 mg of caffeine, with its manufacturer’s chest-thumping that it is stronger than Red Bull by 350 times. It also contains 750 grams of taurine, a high-level stimulant, which has been used for marketing the drink in different locations. Cocaine is famous among the young. When you take, you shall experience the “throat-numbing” effect cocaine users experience. In 2007, the FDA recommended the adverse negative effects, which led it to be banned in the States.

Later, the drink was allowed into the market with changes in the formula. For a long time, social and moral institutions such as religious groups and leading parties in the acedia have condemned the drink for the:” legal alternative” slogan accusing it of playing a role in encouraging the use of the actual cocaine drug. You will commonly see it being taken by young people at parties and concerts whose performers have been accused of using performance enhancers.

2. Rockstar

One of the most cunning characteristics of energy drinks is their lies about their contents. When you open the Rockstar Website, they introduce themselves as being “the original” energy drink, and it goes ahead to persuade you by telling you that you are “the Rockstar for every hustle. There cannot be a perfect life than this. The truth is that it contains some of the highest sugar levels among the drinks on this list. However, compared to Bang and reign, it has lower caffeine levels. If it is fun, then be aware that you are overtaking sugar by 126%. The only benefit you get from the drink is that it has a 100% recommended amount of Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, and Niacin. About Lawsuits.Com reported that the Food and Drunks Authority (FDA) of the United States had received 13 complaints about the adverse effects of using Rockstar. Rockstar’s reported severe effects are that it can cause heart attacks, stroke, and acute hepatitis.

1. Reign

Reign got into the market in 2019 through its parent company Monster Beverage. The drink is packaged in more than ten flavors, the most famous being the Orange Dreamsicle, Razzle Berry, Sour Apple, Melon Mania, and Lemon HDZ (Heads). After it was introduced, VPX Sports launched a lawsuit against Monster Beverage Corporation because it had infringed on its trade dress by using the word “reign.” The company m markets the drink having zero artificial colors and sugar. Independent parties have established that it contains 300 mg of caffeine.

Despite their adverts that it contains zero sugar, they must use artificial sweeteners such as Sucralose. It exceeds the recommended Vitamin B12 by 250%, Vitamin B6 by over 120%, and Niacin by 130%. According to Reize Club, the high levels of caffeine is overwhelming for new users, and it may cause insomnia, rapid heart rate, and insomnia. The drink is also not suitable for those who undertake light duties daily.

In Conclusion

The Energy drink industry is one clear example of how governments compromise public safety or business existence. Indeed, if it were to exist by merit, many energy drinks would have been closed a long time ago. Governments and consumer protection agencies must take serious actions to punish any company not adhering to relevant health laws severely. Energy drinks have been crucial in developing sports and talents despite their dark sides. Lastly, the government must compel all energy drink companies to provide the formula for manufacturing the drinks to the public.