Here’s a quick reminder that you can review the average caffeine levels in familiar products on this comparison chart.  Notice that a coffee house coffee has twice the caffeine as a similarly sized energy drink and more than five times the caffeine as a similarly sized soft drink.

While media has been misreporting the levels of caffeine in products like energy drinks, it’s important to keep this comparison in mind – especially given the widespread popularity of coffee house coffees.

Whatever beverage you choose, be sure to practice moderation of all foods and drinks – and make sure to get out there and exercise!  This combination is a foolproof way to make sure you are working towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

More questions on caffeine? Click here to learn more.  Of course you can always leave a comment, or hit us up on Twitter and Facebook.

First, whether categorized as a conventional food or as a dietary supplement, all energy drinks and their ingredients are regulated by FDA.  This is true for energy drinks as well as any other food or beverage. The activists claiming otherwise are not being forthright.

Caffeine, a core ingredient of energy drinks, is one of the most thoroughly tested ingredients in the food supply today.  Its use has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as more than 140 countries around the world.

And when it comes to caffeine, it’s important to put the facts in perspective when it comes to energy drinks.  Energy drinks contain about half the caffeine of a similar size cup of coffee you would buy at your favorite coffeehouse.  In fact, young adults getting coffee from popular coffeehouses are getting about twice as much caffeine as they would from a similar size energy drink.

But most importantly, government data shows that children and teens are not large consumers of energy drinks – undermining a fundamental attack leveled by “the study of the day.”  According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) Survey, the caffeine consumed from energy drinks for those under the age of 18 is less than the caffeine derived from all other sources including soft drinks, coffee and teas. And total caffeine consumption from energy drinks among pre-teens is nearly zero.  In fact, the data show that caffeine consumption from energy drinks for children and teens, on average, is far less than even one can of an energy drink per day.

ABA and our member companies encourage all consumers to stay informed about the products they consume.  Reading the nutrition facts panel and heeding the voluntary advisory statements that many of our members place on their product labels is important.

We’ll be straight with you. Energy drinks contain a good dose of caffeine. So, those who are sensitive to caffeine – or aren’t regular consumers of caffeine – should keep that in mind. In other words, take the same common sense approach you would take with coffee.

For more information on energy drinks, visit our Energy Drinks product page at: www.ameribev.org/minisites/products/.

Many enjoy their morning cup of coffee for the flavor, some for the caffeine. In fact, an 8-ounce drip coffee contains approximately 104-192 milligrams of caffeine.

Energy drinks are a younger beverage category, also enjoyed by some for their flavor, and by others for the caffeine. But the popularity of energy drinks has produced some vocal opposition about caffeine levels. Unfortunately, the opposition is often uninformed on the facts. In fact, the amount of caffeine in mainstream energy drinks is moderate. To learn more, check out our caffeine comparison chart on our Web site.

So now you know about Google Caffeine – but how much do you know about the caffeine in your beverages? Wait – don’t Google it yet. Caffeine is a natural substance and mild stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, Kola nuts, cocoa beans and other plants.

Caffeine is one of the most comprehensively studied ingredients in the food supply, with centuries of safe consumption in foods and beverages. In fact, more than 140 countries have specifically considered the safety of caffeine and allow its use in beverages at varying levels.

And our industry strives to provide consumers with information. In addition to meeting all government labeling regulations, many of our member companies voluntarily list the amount of caffeine directly on a product’s label. And consumers can easily find out how much caffeine is in their favorite beverage by calling the company’s 1-800 number or visiting their Web site.

To find out more about caffeine, visit our Web site. There is a lot of helpful information and answers to some common questions. Ok, and after you read the information on our Web site – you just may not have to Google it!

Now, Sip & Savor has no problem with the fact students like a cup of coffee or that these coffeehouses have become places for them to gather and socialize. (Though clearly, today’s teens aren’t intimidated by the myth perpetuated in the “business peoples’ generation” that caffeine will stunt your growth. Judging by the height of these kids, they’re just more proof that this notion is indeed a myth.)

But the popularity of these coffeehouses again raises interesting questions about caffeine, as we know certain activists like to find various reasons to get worked up about it. They’re helped along by the volley of “science news stories” that feature a different sensational headline of the day – one day, caffeine is good for you, the next day someone says it’s not. Another frequent target nowadays is energy drinks. We believe energy drinks get undue focus, perhaps, because the activists and scientists like their coffee or soft drink and don’t want to give it up. Or it’s just something new for the activists in the Nanny State to shoot at.

So we thought it would be good to once again remind folks about how much caffeine is in coffee versus energy drinks versus soft drinks.

As this chart shows, a regular 16-ounce coffee from a brand coffeehouse contains twice the amount of caffeine as a similar’sized energy drink and more than 5 times the caffeine of a similar-sized soft drink. If you click on the hyperlink to the chart, above it is a “Learn more” button on caffeine, which will take you to more information on this safe and widely used ingredient.

The information just provides some important perspective to keep in mind, as well as information we thought might be helpful to parents and teens.

Bottom line: unless you’re sensitive to caffeine (and if you are, we presume you already moderate yourself accordingly), enjoy your caffeinated products. People worldwide have been doing so safely for generations.

Energy drinks are popular for their pick-me-up qualities, taste and convenience. They’re a great beverage choice for those looking for these qualities. And their caffeine content is quite moderate and comparable to other popular beverages, namely coffee.

Something to keep in mind when reading about energy drinks or listening to discussion on these popular beverages.