The Energy Drink Debate: Kids and Caffeine — Where Do You Draw the Line?

Lately, there's been a big topic up for debate in our house: energy drinks.Specifically, whether or not kids should be allowed to have them — and if so, when, and how often?

My stepdaughter has recently become obsessed with energy drinks. And when I say obsessed, I mean she has probably twenty empty cans stacked up like a trophy display in her room. It’s like a little shrine to caffeine.All I can think about when I see it is how much backwash is probably chilling inside the few drops left at the bottom of every can, just sitting there on her shelf. (Maybe I’m officially "too old" for all the new “cool” teenage trends, but seriously... gross.)

I hate the idea of her drinking them so young.Her dad thinks it’s okay in moderation — but here’s the catch: there’s no real moderation limit set. If she asks for one, about 98% of the time, she gets it. No second-guessing, no “maybe later,” just a quick "okay."

It honestly scares me. You hear so many horror stories about energy drinks and teenagers — heart issues, high blood pressure, even worse. And while I know not every article tells the whole story, what I do know is the thought of something happening to one of our kids is terrifying.

I’ll admit — as an adult, I thrive on caffeine some days. (Okay, most days.) But I’m also aware that my body can handle it differently than a still-developing teenager's. I just can’t convince myself that energy drinks are safe for kids, no matter how “normal” it seems in their world.

It got me wondering:At what age did you allow energy drinks in your house?Did you have rules, like only on special occasions, or certain brands you trusted more?Or was it a hard no until they were older — or even an adult?

I would love to hear what limits other families set — and how you found a balance between letting them make their own choices and protecting their health.

What’s your take on kids and energy drinks? Where do you draw the line?