A newly formed coalition of doctors is asking Big 12 Conference leaders to pause a Monster Energy sponsorship and is calling on the NCAA to review energy drink marketing to youths, citing health risks and child deaths.
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A newly formed coalition of doctors is urging Big 12 Conference leaders to pause a Monster Energy sponsorship and is asking the NCAA to review how energy drinks are marketed to young people, warning the drinks can seriously harm children. The coalition’s appeal follows the Monster Energy deal with the Big 12 athletic conference, which includes a co-branded logo on football and basketball jerseys, fields and courts, and across digital and social media channels. The doctors say they are concerned not only about Monster but about energy drinks more broadly and similar partnerships. In support of the warning, the coalition cites the deaths of three children, including Davis Cripe, a 16-year-old from South Carolina. His father, Sean Cripe, described receiving a call from Davis’ high school saying Davis was being taken to the emergency room after he chugged an energy drink “to be cool.” Sean Cripe said his son soon developed an abnormal heart rhythm and died. He also said the family had discussed with Davis that energy drinks “weren’t healthy,” but they did not understand they “could be deadly.” According to the coroner at the time of Davis Cripe’s death, Davis had no prior heart condition and drank a Mountain Dew and a McDonald’s latte earlier in the day before experiencing arrhythmia after the energy drink. The report also indicates it was not the first time Davis had consumed an energy drink, though he was not drinking them regularly.
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