Joseph Brownstein, ‘LiveScience’, posts this article on Sott.net.

Energy drinks – sweet drinks containing caffeine and often herbal supplements – have been drawing scrutiny over their nutritional value. Now the nation’s largest group of pediatricians is strongly recommending that they not be consumed by children.

Article linked here.

There is some room for confusion in the references to ‘sports drinks‘ and ‘energy drinks‘  and their relative benefits and dangers to youngsters.  If I understand correctly, energy drinks are a risk mainly because of caffeine and possibly other compounds. Sports drinks are not necessarily harmful but need to be associated with activity to burn off the calories.  Age and weight no doubt enter into the equation, but even an older person can be adversely affected by too much energy drink.

Reading this and the related articles will complete the picture and hopefully the drinks ingredients are labelled and should enable a proper risk assessment.

Related articles

• Pediatricians: no energy drinks for kids; greatly limit use of sports drinks (via The Chart) (gemweev.wordpress.com)
• “Pediatricians Warn Against Energy And Sports Drinks For Kids” and related posts (wnyc.org)
• Kids don’t need energy or sports drinks: docs say (ctv.ca)
• Kids Warned off Energy Drinks (foxnews.com)