Energy Drinks: Risks and Alternatives

Name:

Date:

📚 Part 1: Information & Quick Questions

WALT: Identify short-term and long-term risks of energy drinks and recognise healthier alternatives for teenagers.

Energy drinks are marketed to increase alertness and energy. They often contain high levels of caffeine, sugar and other stimulants. Short-term effects can include jitteriness, trouble sleeping, raised heart rate and dehydration. Frequent use may increase the risk of long-term issues such as persistent sleep problems, anxiety, high blood pressure and tooth decay. For most teenagers, safer options include water, milk, sports drinks with low sugar (for long activity), herbal tea or a small healthy snack and a good sleep routine.

1. Which ingredient in energy drinks most often causes increased alertness and a faster heart rate?

Caffeine

Vitamin B

Taurine

Sugar

2. Check all short-term effects that are commonly linked to energy drink use:

Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)

Dehydration

Improved long-term bone health

Increased blood pressure

3. Which of these is a possible long-term risk from frequent energy drink consumption?

Tooth decay and dental erosion

Better sleep patterns

Lower anxiety levels

Stronger bones

4. After training for 60 minutes on a hot day, the healthiest immediate choice is:

Water (drink and rehydrate)

Energy drink

Coffee

Regular soft drink

✏️ Part 2: Short Answers & Practical Tasks

WALT: Explain the harmful effects and create a safer plan for a teenager who feels tired or needs energy.

5. List three short-term effects of energy drinks on a teenager:

6. List three possible long-term health effects from regular energy drink use:

7. Plan a 24-hour routine for a teenager who normally drinks an energy drink before school. Replace the energy drink with healthier choices (include morning, midday and after-school options):

8. You are tired before an important match. Write three safer options you could try instead of an energy drink and explain why each helps (one sentence each):