Banned in Colorado: Energy Drink Gives More Than Just a Boost

By Rich Silverman

The bold black, red, and yellow can bears a warning label that states, "READ LABEL BEFORE DRINKING " along with the words, "WARNING: EXTREMELY POTENT." The can also warns consumers not to use this product if they are under 18 or elderly and that it contains strong stimulants and should not be combined with other stimulants or fat-loss products.

A new prescription drug? A special dietary supplement?

No, it's Spike Shooter, a new energy drink aimed at 18-34 year olds, and, according to the website energyfiend.com, an 8.4-ounce can of Spike Shooter contains more caffeine than an entire 6-pack of Coca-Cola Classic.

The energy drink market is estimated to be more than $3 billion and have more than 500 products vying for consumer attention.

Three Colorado Springs area schools have alerted parents to the potential dangers of Spike Shooter, according to a story in the Colorado Springs Gazette, including one that persuaded a 7-11 store to stop selling the product.

Doherty High principal Jill Martin has banned the drink from campus. She says that last week, two Doherty students were rushed to the emergency room after they drank just one can of Spike Shooter. Martin says at least 5 others complained of heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, after consuming the energy drink.

"Of course at first, they had a huge burst of energy, but then when they came down, they almost couldn't function," she said. Martin also noted that one girl had to be taken from her classroom in a wheelchair because she could barely walk.

A 17-year-old Aspen Valley High School junior became short of breath after drinking a Spike Shooter. His heart raced and he became jittery and anxious. He rode a bus to Pikes Peak Community College, where he takes vocational classes. School employees there called an ambulance. The responding paramedics said his pulse was extremely high.

Spike Shooter is a product of Biotest Laboratories, LLC of Colorado Springs. Biotest CEO Tim Patterson considers the warnings to be "hysteria," and said he never heard of such problems until the letter sent out by the schools. It is currently available in California and Colorado, and the company is looking to roll the product out in other markets.

The Cherry Creek School District announced on Thursday that it, too, will send warning letters to parents. "I think it's a little disingenuous for them to say that they're not marketing to teenagers, that the drink isn't suitable for teenagers, and then set up shop near a high school to hand out free samples," said Tustin Amole, a spokesperson for Cherry Creek Schools.

According to a recent report on Channel 9 News, at least 224 7-11 stores have removed Spike Shooter from their shelves.

Patterson said the drink is not intended for teenagers and should be safe if consumers follow the label directions. The directions recommend that users start with half a can to determine their "tolerance," and that consumers should not drink more than one can in a day.

"It was an unintended consequence," Patterson said, according to the Gazette. "We don’t make any products targeted to young teenagers." Patterson added that, "It’s really difficult to control abuse of a product."