The Official Energy Drink Thread 2005

Wow!

A convert!

Fuck yeah! I've been saying it for a couple years now, and UB I am so proud of you right now.

MONSTER ENERGY DRINK!!!

[Beebs]

Originally posted by Ugly Bastard:
As I work on can #2 of Monster, I'd like to share this.

4.) Health: Monster Energy Drink is a "Lo-Carb" Energy Drink. Now, while I know both Monster and Red Bull are ultimately horrible for your body, and in a sense, this is like arguing that Miller Lite is better for you than MGD; bottom line is, facts are facts, and Monster's a little healthier for you.

-Ugly Bastard

Monster itself is not sugar free, only the "lo-carb" is. Red Bull also makes a sugarfree version.

[Ugly Bastard]

I've only ever seen the Lo Carb version. Which is what I've had both two times I've had it, and it's incredible.

And not to be a nitpicking fuck, but:

A.) Monster Lo-Carb has a little bit of sugar in it.

B.) Of course I know Red Bull comes in a SugarFree form, but it tastes fucking awful.

-Ugly Bastard

[Orgazmo]

Originally posted by Ugly Bastard:
B.) Of course I know Red Bull comes in a SugarFree form, but it tastes fucking awful.

You flip-flop motherfucker.

[Ugly Bastard]

I tried to force myself to think it tastes good. Bottom line: It doesn't. I was lying to myself by saying I liked it.

-Ugly Bastard

[the Butcher]

After stealing a Sugarfree Red Bull from my work today, I took it home to see how this "fucking awful" (Ugly Bastard 02.19.05 2:32 pm) drink tasted. I'll explain.

I absolutely love the fact that there is a blue tab but a silver can. Fucking awesome. More beverages in cans should do this. I know a few energy drinks do, but come one. Every fucking can needs this sweet shit.


At first taste, the drink was noticably less sweet than the original Red Bull, which makes my teeth cry out in pain. I continued to drink, but no feelings of disgust ever came to my mouth, stomach or mind.


I decided that this Sugarfree version was better than the original. I know, I know, it's FUCKING SUGARFREE. But hey, why not do my body some good while getting buzzed off of a free energy drink that is filled with 2.5 times the amount of vitamin B6 that my body is supposed to have?


I am thoroughly satisfied with the consumption of this beverage. From now on, I'm a sugarfree Red Bull kind of guy.

[Ugly Bastard]

I too am a very large fan of the Blue tab. I also was a very large fan of the Sugarfree beverage the first time I tried it. After a few cans though, I realized it tasted horrible.

Nice post. edit: Nice piercings in the lip too.

-Ugly Bastard

[ February 20, 2005, 07:04 PM: Message edited by: Ugly Bastard ]

I like the sugarfree version.

Better than the regular version.

[the Butcher]

Originally posted by Ugly Bastard:
Nice post. edit: Nice piercings in the lip too.

If you're just now saying that, that means I haven't seen you since...a long fucking time.

[Ugly Bastard]

Its very possible I've seen them before, and only now cared enough to say "nice piercings"

-Ugly Bastard

[Mr. Blonde]

I have a craving for a Monster energy drink right now, real bad.

ENERGY DRINKS: THE NEW COFFEE?
Students and bar patrons alike drink to stay awake

by Ryan Corazza

It's Friday morning and sophomore [DJ FC] has just rolled out of bed for his 11:15 class at the business school. Sluggish and groggy-eyed, [FC] hops into his car at Hoosier Courts and drives down 17th Street toward campus. He makes a pit stop at the gas station to fuel up. But it's not for his car; it's for himself.

"I usually stop at the gas station and pick one (an energy drink) up on my way to class," he said. "I love 'em."

[FC], who started consuming energy drinks in high school, is part of an increasingly popular trend of individuals opting for the tangy taste of a Red Bull instead of hot coffee to keep them alert for the day. "I definitely think energy drinks could become our generation's coffee," he said.

He could very well be right. Since Red Bull's inception to the U.S. market in 1997, a plethora of other drinks have flooded the market due to its popularity. About 300 drinks are available on the shelves today. College students have latched onto energy drinks because not only do they help them stay up to cram for a test or keep them alert during the day, but when mixed with alcohol, can keep them partying long into the night.

Most are marketed to the younger generation of students, active individuals and athletes in the 21-35 demographic. Red Bull's Web site plays alternative music while images of snowboarders, surfers and motorcyclists can be seen. Rockstar Energy's Web site plays hard rock music and one can file through a picture gallery of celebrities and athletes posing with a can of the drink.

Even soft drink kings Pepsi and Coca-Cola are trying to get a piece of the energy drink dollar. Pepsi produces SoBE Adrenaline Rush and AMP Energy Drink (one could argue it's Mountain Dew in energy drink form) and Coke owns Full Throttle which can be bought on campus at IU. Neither company's drinks have currently matched the success of Red Bull, which currently holds about two-thirds of the U.S. market.

So what exactly is in these drinks and how do they work?

According to Red Bull, there are five primary ingredients in their drink that combine to give its user's more energy. The caffeine in the drink (although some debate its effects) improves one's alertness and reaction speed. Red Bull also contains taurine, which is an amino acid found in the heart, brain, muscles, blood cells and retina. The carbohydrates in the drink give the user increased energy. A special-type of carbohydrate, glucurono lactone, as well as B-complex vitamins found in Red Bull help perform metabolic functions in the body.

Although Red Bull is the most popular drink, it certainly is not the best deal. A skinny 8-ounce can of Red Bull costs $1.79. At 16 ounces and twice the size, Rockstar Energy costs $1.99.

Following instep with America's current health food obsession, some drinks offer a low-carb or sugar-free alternative. Rockstar has implemented Diet Rockstar, Monster has Monster Lo-Carb and Red Bull offers a sugar-free version.

Health-conscious students who enjoy the taste of energy drinks are taking advantage of this. One of these students is junior Holly Coleman.

"I drink the sugar-free kind of Red Bull so it's not as bad for me," said Coleman who works out about 6 times a week. She says she uses Red Bull for the occasional all-nighter or for a mid-day pick-me-up. "My roommates think I'm crazy for drinking it, but I think it's an acquired taste," she said.

[DJ FC] also opts for the healthier drinks of his favorite brands, Rockstar and Monster, because he feels they still provide him with the same amount of energy and are better for him.

Although companies have made an attempt to present a healthier product, energy drinks can still create health problems. Red Bull has been linked to deaths in Ireland, Australia and Sweden. Of the three deaths documented in Sweden, one had consumed Red Bull shortly after exercising and the other two mixed alcohol with Red Bull. Because of these deaths, some restaurants in Sweden have banned the sale of Red Bull in their place of business.

"They contain stimulants such as caffeine or ephedra which raise your heart rate and blood pressure and that's how people die," said Dr. Charlie Kilo of Anchor Healthcare in Naples, Florida. "People can have abnormal heart rhythms or if they are older they can have strokes."

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol also can be potentially dangerous. According to a 2004 Higher Education Center Study, the stimulating effect of energy drinks can deceive people into believing that they are less intoxicated than they actually are. This can lead to drinking too much and getting alcohol poisoning or perhaps getting behind the wheel of a car.

"Your heart is racing and you're not in full control of your senses," said Kilo. "This can cause you to do a whole host of things, such as crashing your car."

Although there are some added risks from mixing alcohol and energy drinks, the patrons at local Bloomington bars don't seem to care. Jägerbombs (a combination of Jägermeister and Red Bull) is amongst the most popular mixed drinks at the bars.

"A Jägerbomb is our No. 1 shot right now," said Maggie Prall, a current night manager of Kilroy's Sports Bar on Walnut Street. "It's a little scary because you're getting more energy to stay up later and drink." Prall, who has worked at Sports for eight years, says that Sports goes through about 20 cases of Red Bull a week and have carried it for a little over 3 years.

"We saw it in Chicago at the restaurant show," she said. "It was a decent product initially but it has gone huge since then." She added that Sports has one of the top accounts in the entire state for Red Bull.

Sports also recently starting carrying B^E (Bud Energy) which is Budweiser's foray into the energy drink game. Prall describes it as an energy drink beer with a bit of a raspberry flavor to it.

"I think it's a good product that will pick up here in a while," she said.

Uncle Fester's and the Jungle Room have also seen the popularity of Jägerbombs explode over the past couple of years and junior bartender Jenny Smith says that Jägerbombs are their most popular drink.

"We have Red Bull on tap and we go through quite a bit," she said.

No matter what an individual uses energy drinks for, one thing can be said for certain. "It's definitely the 'in' thing to drink right now," Smith said.

The Inside Stuff
Energy drink ingredients and what they do:

Taurine: A biologically important acid which increases the metabolism and stimulates the nervous system.

Caffeine: An alkaloid which speeds up the heart rate and increases energy in the short run.

Glucurono lactone: A natural metabolite and carbohydrate that is formed when glucose is broken down. It provides an instant energy boost.

Guarana: A shrub native to the Amazon which can improve mental alertness and help fight tiredness.

[ February 24, 2005, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: DJ FC ]

[Beebs]

You're famous...good article though.

[Ironic Mustache]

I would like to have an energy drink on tap.

Originally posted by Ironic Mustache:
I would like to have an energy drink on tap.

I would bust a nut.

[Ugly Bastard]

What do you think would happen if you slammed like 12 Red Bulls in 30 minutes?

-Ugly Bastard

[StabMaster Arson]

you probably have to piss really bad.

[the Butcher]

Originally posted by Ugly Bastard:
What do you think would happen if you slammed like 12 Red Bulls in 30 minutes?

-Ugly Bastard

you'd have one fuck of a great buzz.

Originally posted by Ugly Bastard:
What do you think would happen if you slammed like 12 Red Bulls in 30 minutes?

-Ugly Bastard

Now this could be just an urban legend, but I once heard that someone died from drinking 9 Red Bulls consecutively.

There have been energy drink related deaths.

[Ugly Bastard]

Oh I would totally believe it. I've had 2 Red Bulls in less than an hour before (which really isn't that big of a deal - I'm sure everyone here can top that feat), and I could feel my heart wanting to blow out of my chest. It honestly was a little much, and I didn't like it...

12 in a half hour, I could easily see that killing someone.

-Ugly Bastard

Caffeine tolerance is a real thing, I've had 4 redbulls in about an hours time before.

[Ironic Mustache]

Rud that run you? $75?

[Orgazmo]

Originally posted by DJ FC:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Ugly Bastard:
What do you think would happen if you slammed like 12 Red Bulls in 30 minutes?

-Ugly Bastard

Now this could be just an urban legend, but I once heard that someone died from drinking 9 Red Bulls consecutively.

There have been energy drink related deaths.</font>[/quote]
That sounds like a challenge. Who's up to it?

It's not possible.

You will vomit, or pass out.

[ February 24, 2005, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: DJ FC ]

[Orgazmo]

All you had to say was, "Not me!".