Looking for an afternoon pick-me-up? Here’s what you need to know the next time you reach for an energy drink. 

First, energy drinks have been enjoyed by billions of people around the world for more than 30 years and are recognized as safe by leading health authorities worldwide, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Importantly, energy drinks are regulated by the FDA, just like all foods and beverages.  

Many people may not know that the amount of caffeine found in mainstream energy drinks is about half the amount of a coffeehouse coffee. For example, a typical 16-ounce energy drink contains 160 milligrams of caffeine, while the same size coffeehouse coffee contains around 300 to 330 milligrams.   

The caffeine in energy drinks is the same type of caffeine that either naturally occurs in coffee, tea or chocolate or is added to beverages like soda and energy drinks. Caffeine is a natural substance found in the seeds, nuts and leaves of plants and is safely consumed in foods and beverages by billions of people every day. 

Lastly, our member companies – which represent 94% of the energy drinks sold in the U.S. – go above and beyond government-mandated energy drink labeling requirements to keep people fully informed of what’s in their beverage. We voluntarily list the total amount of caffeine from all sources on the label and ensure consumers know that these drinks are not intended or recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women or those sensitive to caffeine. 

To learn more about this category, visit energydrinkinformation.com