Young athletes and energy drinks: A bad mix?

The Gatorade cooler and the coffee pot in the locker room have competition. From youth playing fields to major league clubhouses, caffeinated energy drinks such as Red Bull and its scores of cousins have become a familiar presence in sports. "The bottom line is, it's a long season. You're going to do what you have to do, whether you feel like you have to jump into UGG Classic Short a cryogenic freezing tank or a hyperbaric chamber or drink a Red Bull," said Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson, a World Series starter who says he has never used alcohol or drugs but consumes energy drinks socially and to prepare himself to pitch. "I see nothing wrong with drinking Red Bull."Some athletes and industry officials compare the beverages to a cup of coffee. But doctors and other experts increasingly warn of misunderstandings about energy drinks' contents, lax labeling requirements and the risks of high doses of caffeine — particularly to young athletes.