The History of Energy Drinks

Taisho Pharmaceuticals (Japan) makes the first drink specifically targeted at increasing energy.
First introduced as a medicinal tonic drink
The drink (Lipvitan-D) contains a mix of essential vitamins and also taurine and niacin which are metabolic agents proven to boost things such as energy and concentration.

Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian, adds caffeine and sugar and named this drink Red Bull, after the taurine amino acid.

The sale of energy drinks has gone up 61% since its introduction to the U.S.
Even though other energy drinks later hit the market, Red Bull still remains the most well-known and top name, with annual sales around the two billion dollar mark globally.

The alcoholic energy drink known as Four Loko is introduced to the public by Phusion Pharmaceuticals

Four Loko is reintroduced to the American market after removing caffeine, taurine, and guarana as ingredients. This was a result of legal, ethical, and health concerns about the product.

13 deaths reported over the past 4 years as a result of 5-hour Energy

Washington State begins legislation to ban energy drinks to persons under 18 years old.