So, a friend at school told me the other day that on Tuesday, Feburary 15th, 2005, the popular 'Red Bull' energy drink was made illegal in the United States because it contains the ingredient Taurine, an energy stimulant which I guess is now considered an illegal drug. So this was big news to me, who drinks the occasional 'Red Bull,' so I told a lot of my friends and family, But I was surprised none of them had heard about it. So I decided to look it up to see if it was true, and I was unable to find any information that it indeed was made illegal. I was wondering if somebody could tell me THE TRUTH: Is 'Red Bull' illegal or not?

This article says that it is illegal in Europe. I found a really funny site calling it "Mind-altering" and "a popular liquid methamphetamine drink" I'll just let it speak for itself. I don't think that it could possibly be "illegal" in the states. Otherwise, we would have had news reports and it wouldn't be sold anywhere.

And for more credible sites I found two articles from CNN. It especially warns of mixing with alcohol, but I doubt that is going to be a problem for you.

mixed red bull and any alcohol is hugely popular these days.
Personally i like my drinks straight.

If it is in America, it's certainly not in Australia. You can pick up a can at virtually any service station.

I have heard reports of people dying as a result of consuming it, although I'm not entirely sure of their credibility.

So let me get this straight... Red Bull is dangerous because it contains a lot of caffeine (about as much as a cup of coffee) and a lot of sugar. Wow... Maybe we need to get those Dunkin' Donuts-visiting cops off the street as they virtually live on high doses of caffeine & sugar (donuts!!). And amino acids?? Naturally occuring, baby... Crazy Euros....

I don't understand why people like it. It surely isn't because it TASTES good. I don't know, I don't like that funky flavor.

It tastes like Sweet Tarts. I know some people from work who love it. They're expensive, by the way. Two bucks for a can. I guess it's like a miniature version of a cocaine habit.

According to what I've found, there's no FDA record on the Red Bull that most of you know and love. There IS another Red Bull, a Thai drink, that is banned by the FDA for an illegal flavoring.

There are several dieticians who have claimed taurine has health benefits (including reducing blood pressure, inproving cardiovascular health, and treating epilepsy).

I don't see how, given the lack of an FDA policy record or a ban on Red Bull, their could be any illegality in selling it. I asked a clerk at my local gas station and he'd never heard of a ban.

I've never tried the stuff. Not for any real reason, just never tried it. I get my caffeine from Mountain Dew. I had some other kind of energy drink (Rooster Booster?) one night while driving from St. Louis to Atlanta, but it didn't help me. I was still sleepy and punchy.

quote:

I've never tried the stuff. Not for any real reason, just never tried it. I get my caffeine from Mountain Dew. I had some other kind of energy drink (Rooster Booster?) one night while driving from St. Louis to Atlanta, but it didn't help me. I was still sleepy and punchy.

I haven't had a "Red Bull" either, though I did have one of those Mountain Dew "Amped" things, it tasted terrible. I get my energy from Mountain Dew "Code Red" and a sea of Gatorade.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I've never tried the stuff. Not for any real reason, just never tried it. I get my caffeine from Mountain Dew. I had some other kind of energy drink (Rooster Booster?) one night while driving from St. Louis to Atlanta, but it didn't help me. I was still sleepy and punchy.

I'm proud to say that I've never consumed Red Bull, either. Dr. Pepper is my favourite hyper-caffeinated soda. I haven't had any in at least a year, though.

Well I HAVE tried Red Bull, and it sucks. If you think Amped's are bad then you would definitely dislike Red Bull. Or it could be one of those things that grows on you. I mean, why do people like Coca Cola? At some time or another they drank it until it was recognized as a good flavor by their system.

I wouldn't pay two bucks for one, but I did like the taste. It's almost exactly like a Sweet Tart candy, except it's fizzy, which makes it even better.

I don't want to start an argument, but Diet Dr.Pepper>>>>Coke>>>>>>Pepsi

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Originally posted by Buck "Sweetie" McGuck:
I don't want to start an argument, but Diet Dr.Pepper>>>>Coke>>>>>>Pepsi

No arguments here.

Damn, I was hopin' for another argument! They're good to the last DROP!

You know what else is good to the last drop? Cherry Pepsi. I really should go to bed now, it is 2:30 and I have work at 9:00, but my brain won't stop working.

None of you guys have tried Red Bull??? What's up with that?? I thought all game-heads and net-heads lived on that stuff?? I've bought it for parties, etc. and have probably had about 30 in my lifetime. For some reason, there was a LOT of Red Bull advertising on the game "WipEout XL", which came out in about 97, long before it became a popular drink in the states. The "cool" factor was definitely high. Unlike the older, yet equally-as-bad-for-you "Jolt" cola...

Bottom line: Red Bull is tasty, looks like piss in a glass, and is not to be consumed with ice -- trust me. "Red Bull...neat."

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Originally posted by RayRay:
None of you guys have tried Red Bull??? What's up with that?? I thought all game-heads and net-heads lived on that stuff??

What on earth would give you that idea?

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Originally posted by Biggles:

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Originally posted by RayRay:
None of you guys have tried Red Bull??? What's up with that?? I thought all game-heads and net-heads lived on that stuff??

What on earth would give you that idea?

Living in LA, I've heard from a bunch of game programmers that they live on the stuff...

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Originally posted by RayRay:
Living in LA, I've heard from a bunch of game programmers that they live on the stuff...

I see.