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What Age Can You Legally Buy And Drink Monster Energy Drinks?

As the years pass, we, as a society, are learning more about food and drink, and how it can negatively impact our bodies.

What Age Can You Legally Buy And Drink Monster Energy Drinks

We all know that energy drinks aren’t good for us, but how bad could they possibly be? Are they safe for children to drink?

In this article, we will be taking a look at the harmful effects that Monster Energy drinks can have on minors, as well as adults.

We will also find out whether it is legal to buy and drink Monster if you are under the age of 18.

So, let’s get into it. Here is all you need to know about Monster Energy, and the age restrictions that come with them.

What Is Monster Energy?

In 2002, the carbonated energy drink Monster Energy made its debut on store shelves.

It is currently the second most popular energy drink in the world in terms of sales and consumption, with Red Bull taking the top spot.

Due to its numerous sponsorships and backing of extreme sports competitions including MotoGP, BMX, motocross, skating, snowboarding, and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, this beverage has gained a lot of publicity over the years. 

Additionally, the drink has been widely publicized in the entertainment industry by stars like Machine Gun Kelly, Asking Alexandria, Iggy Azalea, and Fetty Wap.

Monster Energy is available in an array of different flavors, including orange, cola, white pineapple, watermelon, and cherry, but the most popular variation is the original energy flavor. 

Perhaps more familiar than the flavor itself is the Monster Energy’s logo and design.

It’s easy to recognize the black can with the line green colored letter ‘M’ on it, which is made up of three lines that seem like a monster’s claws tearing through the packing.

What Ingredients Make Up A Can Of Monster?

Just like all energy drinks, Monster Energy is by no means the healthiest beverage for a person to consume.

It is a fizzy, flavored drink that is filled with additives, and although it is safe to drink on occasion, it should not be consumed too often for the sake of your health.

There is a lot of sugar and glucose in this energy drink. In fact, a startling 54 grams of sugar can be found in one can of Monster.

In order to put this figure into perspective, it is worth mentioning that it is about 20 grams higher than the daily recommended intake for men.

Other ingredients include carbonated water – which makes the beverage all fizzy – plus natural flavoring, color additives, citrus acid, salt, preservatives, and, of course, caffeine.

Caffeine is the component that gives an ‘energy’ drink its title. This ingredient can be found in coffee, tea, soda, and even fruit.

It is a stimulant that can be found naturally in some food and drinks, and added artificially to other products. 

This particularly ingredient is, more than all else, known for giving its consumer an energy boost.

Most people are also aware that caffeine is a highly addictive drug, which is why so many people have found themselves becoming addicted to coffee, fizzy drinks, and energy drinks.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Drink Monster?

How Old Do You Have To Be To Drink Monster

Now, let’s get to the main question of this article: how old do you have to be to purchase and drink a can of Monster Energy? Are there age restrictions for this fizzy beverage?

The answer to this question is yes, there are age restrictions for buying this form of energy drink in many places.

In certain places, including the UK, and some US states, you must be 18 years or older to purchase and/or consume a can of Monster Energy.

You will need to present a form of identification to prove that you are over 18 before you can make a purchase.

However, there is currently no legal age requirement for drinking Monster Energy in the US.

While some forms of energy drinks, such as BANG, display an 18+ warning on their cans, it is not yet illegal for anyone under 18 to drink any energy drink, including Monster, in the US.

Why Is There An Age Restriction For Monster?

The current legalities surrounding children being able to drink Monster may change in the near future, as it has been proved that the high doses of caffeine in Monster can be detrimental to a child/teenager’s health. 

Children under the age of 12 are advised by pediatricians to completely avoid caffeine, while those aged 12 to 18 are advised to restrict their daily caffeine intake to no more than 100 mg.

The 160 mg of caffeine in an average-sized can of Monster (16 oz) may be detrimental to those who are under the age of 18.

Caffeine can cause serious, potentially fatal heart issues in children and teenagers, in addition to bringing on anxiety, digestive complications, and increased blood pressure.

All the reasons above are why the American Academy of Pediatrics, in 2011, declared that energy drinks should not, under any circumstances, be consumed by adolescents.

Despite this, the FDA is still debating whether to restrict the age of those who can drink Monster. 

Therefore, while those under 18 may not be able to purchase this drink in some states, they will be able to drink them without any legal repercussions (despite the potential medical repercussions).

How Many Monsters Can I Drink in One Day?

As we mentioned earlier, children aged between 12 and 18 should only consume up to 100 mg of caffeine per day.

Since an average-sized can of Monster contains 160 mg, children of this age should avoid drinking the beverage altogether.

Those aged 18 and above can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine, providing that they are healthy, and do not suffer from any heart complications or issues.

Therefore, a healthy adult should still limit themselves to only drinking 3 16 oz cans of Monster a day, which would contain 360 mg. 

However, when an adult drinks 3 or more 16 oz cans of Monster, they are still putting their health at risk. 

Not only is the caffeine content concerning, but the large amount of sugar inside each can is also extremely harmful to a person’s health.

As we said earlier, one can of Monster contains more than 20 g more sugar than an adult man’s recommended intake.

The smaller sized cans – 240 ml – contain 86.4 mg of caffeine, which means someone aged under 18 could safely consume one of these a day.

Adults would be able to drink 4 of these cans, as that would equal to 345.6 mg, but it is still not recommended health-wise.

Can Drinking Monster Stunt Your Growth?

One of the biggest rumors surrounding drinking Monster Energy is that it can stunt an adolescent’s growth if consumed too regularly.

Fortunately, this is just a rumor; drinking Monster cannot, and will not, stunt a person’s growth.

However, just because this particular rumor is not true, that does not mean that those under 18 should feel comfortable drinking Monsters on a regular basis.

As we mentioned earlier, the amount of caffeine and sugar can really harm a child’s health, and can cause way worse issues later in life than simply being a little shorter than average.

Final Thoughts

While there are age restrictions placed on who can purchase Monster Energy drinks, there are currently no laws that restrict those under the age of 18 from drinking the beverages in the US. 

Despite warnings from medical professionals all around the world, the FDA have still not made a decision when it comes to protecting children from the avast detrimental effects of energy drinks, due to their high caffeine and sugar content.

Ultimately, it is up to the parents and guardians to decide whether they want their children drinking Monster or not.

We hope you found this article helpful.

Simon Lewis

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