Keeps you bouncing. (Red Bull)

Member Name: ninacolada86

Product:	Red Bull
Date:	29/05/09 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Energy quick and easy.

Disadvantages: The energy soon runs out.

I only recently started to dabble with the energy drink scene. In Norway where I was living before, Red Bull is illegal so I always figured that there most be something bad or dangerous about it especially since it apparently gives you such a large energy burst.

But long nights and early mornings have been taking a toll on my energy, and I hated always being the one to cancel a night out, because I was just too tired, (little kids will do that to you).
So one night I decided that rather then canceling I would buy some red bull and see what all the hype and price was about.

About Red Bull:

Red Bull is an energy drink which was inspired by a Thai product and is produced and sold by an Austrian company. The Thai energy drink even has the same logo and literally translated name of "Red Bull", the only difference is that the Thai version is sweeter and not carbonated.
Each 250 ml can contains:

21.5 g sucrose.
5.25 g of glucose.
50 mg of inositol.
1000 mg of taurine.
600 mg of glucuronolactone.
vitamin B -- 20 mg of niacin.
5 mg of vitamin B6.
5 mg of pantothenic acid.
5 μg of vitamin B12.
80 mg of caffeine.

This drink is purported to increase energy levels and "to combat mental and physical fatigue".
In Ireland a 4 pack costs from 6-9 euros, and a single can around 2-3.

My experience.

I was a little worried at first but since almost all of my friends are familiar drinkers of Red Bull and they all seem pretty ok, I figured it wouldn't give me a heart attack or brain damage (although its hit and miss with some of them).
The drink was in an aluminum can with a lid that pops open when you pull the tab. The smell upon opening was nothing like a regular soda, and the only thing that comes close to it is the smell of a wet battery.
The taste as well was similar to when as a kid I would lick the end of the large old type of batteries. It wasnt too sweet but definably had a pleasent enough taste, very different but it actually tasted energizing.

That night I was very very hyper for the first two hours or so (I had two energy drinks) but I felt a complete downer after that, almost like it was a fake high that just ran out and left me very tired and cranky.
It was absolutely great while it lasted but you could tell it wasnt quite real.

Conclusion:

I didn't think that this drink was "bad" but it probably isn't good to be drinking too many of these, especially since health experts warn to not use these for hydration. And when you are at a Disco or a Club, you can get very dehydrated and using Red Bull as a thirst quencher is not making things better but rather worse.

I would give it 4 stars because I enjoyed the taste and feeling, but would recommend rest over this stimulant.

Summary: A quick fix, but not a solution.