It comes in a retro aluminum can in three different sizes. It can be used as a get-me-up, a pick-me-up, or a chaser. What is this phenomenon? If you haven’t guessed by now, it’s the famous international energy drink Red Bull. According to the official site, redbull.com, Dietrich Mateschitz founded the drink in 1984. He began distributing Red Bull Energy Drinks on the Austrian market in 1987. Now it exists in over 160 countries. Since the boom in Austria, around 30 billion cans of Red Bull have been consumed, more than 4.2 billion in 2010 worldwide.
Apart from its most basic energy use, Red Bulls are now popular for mixing in alcoholic beverages. However Red Bull along with other trade name energy drinks may impose on your health. ABC News health.com published a story regarding health concerns from local officials. According to the 2006 article, mixing caffeine and alcohol can be dangerous for your body to process. Affects with mixing these two drinks include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular risk, impaired judgment, shortness of breath, dizziness, disorientation and rapid heartbeat. To put measurements into perspective, an 8.3-ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine.
In the fast place world of college, it is not unusual to see Red Bulls fly off shelves or in the hands of bustling students. Though Red Bull can be harsh on the college budget. One Red Bull ranges from $3-$6 depending on the size. If you are thinking of buying in bulk from stores like Costco, be ready to through down $39! Prices aren’t a concern from some, as long as they are able to make it through each day. Others skip buying the high priced drink all together. Carli Rebibo, a retail and consumer science junior says, “I am not a fan of energy drinks. They make me too jittery.”
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Arizona chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.