Doctors urge pause on college energy-drink sponsorships after teen deaths

A newly formed doctors’ coalition is pressing the Big 12 Conference to suspend its sponsorship deal with Monster Energy and requesting that the NCAA evaluate the marketing of energy drinks to minors. The appeal follows the deaths of three teenagers, including 16-year-old Davis of South Carolina, who experienced a fatal heart arrhythmia after consuming an energy drink. Physicians warn that the high caffeine content—ranging from 80 to 300 mg per serving—can trigger abnormal heartbeats, hypertension, dehydration, seizures and other serious health issues in children and adolescents.

Surveys show that roughly one-fifth of high-school students drink energy drinks daily, despite guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics to avoid them entirely. The coalition stresses that university athletes’ endorsement of these products can mislead youths into treating them as sports drinks, increasing consumption risk. While the beverage industry points to label warnings and voluntary school bans, doctors argue that stronger oversight is needed to protect young consumers.