Comments on: It's not made of Testicles. Sorry.

It's not made of Testicles. Sorry.

loquax — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 12:53:29 -0800

Red Bull Gives You Wings! But not if you're a rat. If you're a rat, it makes you suddenly jump in your cage and mutilate yourself. Or at least, the taurine it contains does. The CBC has put together a ridiculously in-depth analysis of Red Bull looking at everything from the ingredients to the approval issues to the cultural impact the "energy drink" has had. The beverage has it's share of supporters and detractors, and the story is nothing new, so is there any legitimate concern about its effects, or is this viral marketing gone mad? Regardless, it looks like they'll soon have some serious competition.

By: Mean Mr. Bucket

Mean Mr. Bucket — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 12:56:08 -0800

Check your canned cat food label. Taurine!

By: euphorb

euphorb — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:10:57 -0800

The Economist had a nice profile on Red Bull and the fellow behind the brand, Dietrich Mateschitz.

WHEN he launched Red Bull, a sweet and tangy energy drink in a slim silver can 15 years ago, Dietrich Mateschitz wrote a new chapter in marketing history. The Austrian entrepreneur not only created a new beverage category: the global market for energy drinks now doubles every year. His gut feel for branding made Red Bull a global cult drink, with euro1.4 billion ($1.3 billion) of sales last year.

By: Triplanetary

Triplanetary — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:15:20 -0800

I feel tired, I drink a Red Bull, I don't feel tired. Well, half the time I'm tired because I'm slightly dehydrated or my blood-sugar is low, and drinking a glass of OJ will have the same effect. Of course, I haven't had more than a few energy drinks at a time, nor have I had them with alcohol, like the kids do nowadays. And Jolt Cola doesn't work on me. But maybe someone else in here has felt effects from energy drinks?

By: davy

davy — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:28:47 -0800

Check your canned cat food label. Taurine! Isn't taurine of those necessary amino acids? I dimly recall reading in the '80s, when plenylalynine was the "scary" amino acid (they used it in OTC diet pills IIRC), that it's not so much any particular amino acid that's dangerous but having an unbalanced excess of a particular one. True? False? (Please help MeFi be an educational resource!) Anyway, it's the mix of caffeine, taurine, and that glucuronolactone stuff anyway, right? I can do five times that much caffeine, even crushing and snorting No-Doz, and I don't mutilate myself.

By: xmutex

xmutex — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:29:11 -0800

Oh like jumping up and down in a cage and mutilating yourself is suddenly a bad thing?

By: uncleozzy

uncleozzy — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:29:33 -0800

I had a Red Bull once, then I went and worked out (this is not a Good Idea). It made me jittery and my heart pounded a bit too much. I've got low-normal blood pressure and usually drink a couple cups of coffee a day, so I wasn't expecting any effect. I didn't enjoy it, although I can see how someone might want to feel that way every so often -- it's more-or-less what the infrequent cigarette does to me, which I do enjoy. A friend of mine ended his night a little early on Friday with a Red Bull and vodka; it went back out the "in" door. He says this combination often does that to him. I don't know why he keeps drinking it.

By: gompa

gompa — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:34:16 -0800

This is unfortunate. The CBC can usually be trusted to avoid this kind of health-issue fear-mongering. I was particularly disappointed with this little sidebar about the potential danger of mixing Red Bull and alcohol. Be careful out there, kids - better to stick to something safe like rye and Coke. Or an Irish coffee.

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:34:39 -0800

Here's a quick peculiar story: My sister decided that she wanted to make some candles out of soda cans. So, we went to the store and got several aluminium cans full of different things. Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew, Monster, Red Bull, Starbucks' Doubleshot, Dr. Pepper, etc. We emptied them all out and rinsed them with warm water. After we prepared the molten wax, we set the wicks and started pouring. Most of the cans behaved completely as one expects cans to behave... that is, they just sat there. Except for the Red Bull. Pouring molten wax into the rinsed-out Red Bull container set it off on some very crazy fizzing, popping, and general jumping-around on the counter. We let it do whatever the hell it was doing for about two minutes, after which it eventually died down and stopped. Something just isn't right with that. Curiously, the Dr. Pepper did the same thing, but on a much smaller scale (maybe two or three seconds of fizz-n'-pop). Moral of the story: If you can't drown it quietly in molten wax, it isn't for eating.

By: LordSludge

LordSludge — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:35:29 -0800

I prefer Rock Star, myself (the teeny-tiny Red Bull cans piss me off), but honestly, neither has much effect on me.

By: Vulpyne

Vulpyne — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:37:33 -0800

Humans can synthesize taurine from other stuff. Cats can't, they have to get it from their diet. You can get it from meat, and it can also be made synthetically. The reason you see it on the ingredients for cat food is because the high heat used for processing most pet food destroys nutritional content.

By: rustcellar

rustcellar — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:42:18 -0800

When I was tabling in my college's student center to hand out copies of a journal I'm editor of, we were approached by a couple college-looking folks, who chatted us up for a little bit, took a copy of our journal, and then whipped around their messenger bags, which were bright blue and had a big Red Bull logo on them. I then noticed that their outfits were all the same blue, with logos on the shoulders. They're looking to engergize student events. Shudder. A friend once described it as "nerd juice," reasoning that it is exactly what you would get if you liquified Nerds candy. Same taste.

By: TheophileEscargot

TheophileEscargot — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:45:40 -0800

Caution: contains caffeine, sugar and placebo.

By: davy

davy — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:48:49 -0800

Oh wow, is it true there's cocaine in Coca-Cola? /kidding

By: gompa

gompa — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:53:09 -0800

Oh wow, is it true there's cocaine in Coca-Cola? No. But it was true until 1929. Styrofoam, however, is not made from kittens.

By: scruss

scruss — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 13:58:21 -0800

gompa, I think that the CBC is outraged that someone's getting around the Canadian no-caffeine-in-anything-but-cola ruling. Because of this, I have to drink wispy Canadian no-caff Irn Bru, which is not a patch on the highly stimulant Scottish original.

By: MiltonRandKalman

MiltonRandKalman — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:03:01 -0800

Keep in mind when you buy Rockstar (salon lk), you're supporting an a-hole and his a-hole son

By: corpse

corpse — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:08:49 -0800

DRINK SPARKS

By: dirigibleman

dirigibleman — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:10:37 -0800

And despite all its rage, it's still just a rat in a cage.

By: dwivian

dwivian — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:10:58 -0800

Full Throttle is basically ginseng infused Surge (which seems to have been withdrawn from the market). Nice flavor, but notice the 16 oz can is a TWO serving container...

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:36:59 -0800

I'd like some of that beer with candy in it, you know, Skittlebrau.

By: lodurr

lodurr — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:38:50 -0800

Sparks? Hey, if you want to sell something that combines the twin ~~demons~~ boons of caffeine and alchohol, I'm your guy. But Sparks is just nasty. I drink a fair amount of sugar-free Red Bull; I also occasionally stock up on TwinLab Energy Drink, which is also sugar free and loaded up with aminos. I also drink a lot of coffee and a lot of Morning Thunder. A lot of people will tell you matter-of-factly that there is a "different form of caffeine" in yerba maté and guarana; I've been told by biologists that's not true, but I know that mate has a different effect on me from coffee, and the effect of a Twinlab or a diet Red Bull is similar to the effect of Morning Thunder (maté): It's not as pronounced, but it also lacks that jittery edge that I get with coffee -- and especially with dark roast coffees. I've long believed that much of the perceived "stimulant" effect of coffee is due to the diuretics it contains. Maté doesn't have as much of a diuretic effect. So it could just be that energy drinks are giving you a purer experience of caffeine. Then again, my experience is not the same as yours, since I rarely consume anything caffeinated that also includes sugar, so I don't get the sugar hit. Oh, BTW: I can absolutely believe that consuming unusually high levels of some amino acid might cause some odd mental effects. I know I managed to mess my own mind up pretty badly at one point, and I know believe that megadoses of choline and inositol were the cause.

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 15:23:41 -0800

This past month has been a jittery blur since I discovered Rip It, some Red Bull-knockoff that's sold in 16 oz. cans at my local party store for a mere 99 cents. Even better: they market a sugar-free version. It's sorta the Faygo equivalent of energy drinks, I'm guessing. I've only given it a quick glance, but bevnet.com seems to have a whole slew of energy drink reviews for caffeine-heads like me.

By: matteo

matteo — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 15:53:30 -0800

for me it tastes so bad that I only had half a can about ten years ago. a friend of mine quite likes it but red bull seems to have an embarrassing side effect on his system -- after drinking the potion he starts letting off an appalling series of ripping, horrible farts

By: anthill

anthill — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:15:56 -0800

matteo... hee hee hee hee. Being a Canadian I sincerely hope that this story is a non-starter and nobody starts trying to ban Red Bull again. I was reduced to buying the shady under-the-counter at-the-vietnamese-store stuff until Red Bull was officially allowed to be sold here. Maybe once every two months I'll go on a vodka and red bull bender... BUT IT'S SO WORTH IT.

By: cloeburner

cloeburner — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:21:29 -0800

lodurr: At last there's an alternative to Sparks: B^E. "Contemporary adults thirst for variety and what's new."

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:27:36 -0800

Just want to say that this is one heck of a good post. Thanks, loquax.

By: Ugandan Discussions

Ugandan Discussions — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:57:56 -0800

Holy energy drink!

By: zardoz

zardoz — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 17:17:52 -0800

My friend came back from Prague a couple years ago singing the praises of Semtex. Very interestingly enough, the company that makes this energy drink also makes--yep, you guessed it--plastic explosives.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 17:23:29 -0800

Red Bull saves my life on a regular basis. It's absolutely instant anti-tired. Add vodka and a splash of 7Up, and it's joy in a glass.

By: PissOnYourParade

PissOnYourParade — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 17:36:42 -0800

What I don't understand is that everyone is ragging on Red Bull and it's like for all its caffeine.. Coffee has freaking 200+ mgs of the stuff... This is a bunch of fear-mongering, plain and simple.

By: livii

livii — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 21:05:17 -0800

This is a good post, thanks, loquax. I had just discovered the story on the CBC site myself earlier today, and was contemplating posting it. But I'm lazy so I'm glad you did it instead, and really really well. :) I think the most interesting angle is the marketing issue. The Red Bull people in Vancouver telling people how to mix it with alcohol even though that's not an approved use? Getting in under health drinks? I have a real bug up my ass about regulatory issues and I am upset by products that scam the system and try to circumvent it. I acknowledge it's unfair, but I get even more upset by foreign products that do this. There's no respect for our system of laws and I find that frustrating, and I sort of knee-jerk wish Red Bull would get kicked out just for this crap. Course, I don't get to drink caffeine anymore, so sometimes I have really violent reactions when I'm exhausted and everyone else is drinking it, damnit.

By: Gyan

Gyan — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 21:11:39 -0800

This AskMe thread on Red Bull contains replies by a former employee of the manufacturer. I can't get why drinks with modafinil/adrafinil aren't developed and marketed for vigilance. Why is modafinil a controlled substance (Schedule 4)? And why isn't adrafinil scheduled (it metabolizes to modafinil)?

By: Joh

Joh — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 21:39:18 -0800

My personal experience is that if I'm really tired, and need to stay awake (eg long distance driving) - coffee makes me jittery but still tired, whereas Red Bull makes me feel properly awake. I can't even drink a whole can of it, just half is enough to do the trick. Last time I drank the whole can I was running up and down stairs like a loon for 3 hours afterwards. I try not to drink Red Bull very often, but it does the trick when I really need it. P.S. Lodurr - WTH is Morning Thunder? It sounds like some kind of early morning bowel movement.

By: lorbus

lorbus — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 22:25:57 -0800

I love RedBull's taste a lot...but can't drink it. Every time I do I get all jittery and nervous. I completely lose my concentration and I can't wait to get to baseline again.

By: Leege

Leege — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 22:46:51 -0800

I've had Red Bull in the past, but I'm more of a fan of Rock Star and Monster, myself. Rip It is good, too - cheap at Wal-Mart. All of those have lo-cal and/or sugar-free versions, as well, and I stick to those , usually. You cannot taste the difference at all. It definitely helps with my energy levels. However, another reason is because I'm not a alcohol drinker, so it's a good non-alc alternative for me. I'm surprised more bars don't sell the stuff - with the prices on those things, I've got to think the profit margins wouldn't be bad. Besides, you kind of feel stupid ordering a Coke in those places, anyway.

By: the cuban

the cuban — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 02:05:36 -0800

WHEN he launched Red Bull..Dietrich Mateschitz wrote a new chapter in marketing history. The Austrian entrepreneur...created a new beverage category I was under the impression that Red Bull was a Thai drink.

By: grouse

grouse — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 02:55:46 -0800

Ugandan Discussions: WTF? the cuban: it was, but Mateschitz invented the Red Bull branding and sold it worldwide.

By: dabitch

dabitch — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 03:31:36 -0800

Kabbalah energy drink? There's a concept. Red Bull tastes horrid, to me anyway, a bit too sweet and pink and I say no thanks to the "Lady Boy" (which the red bull and Vodka combo is called). My picker-upper is Jolt Cola when I can get it, as I don't get that "perk" from a red Bull. All my friends do mind you, but I've been known to fall asleep ten minutes later. I must be immune.

By: the cuban

the cuban — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 04:15:59 -0800

Mateschitz invented the Red Bull branding and sold it worldwide I give him that, but to say he 'created a new beverage category' is pushing it a bit, wouldn;t you say? Genki drinks have existed for a long time (cf Coke, Laudunum).

By: leibniz

leibniz — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 06:18:28 -0800

I would just like to say that I despise the red bull tv adverts more than any other in the universe. Oh god... those voices and the animation and the stories!! I really would like to cause serious pain to whoever is responsible. Also, I have a red bull icon on the main screen of my nokia phone that I just can't get rid of (someone else downloaded it there years ago). Thus, Red bull does nothing but dent the joy of my existence. I say, take every can and fire them into the sun.

By: lodurr

lodurr — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 07:33:26 -0800

WTH is Morning Thunder? It sounds like some kind of early morning bowel movement. Morning Thunder is one of Celestial Seasonings' flagship products: A blend of Yerba Maté and an English Breakfast style black tea. I discovered it in high school, and have been drinking it for almost 25 years by now. It actually tastes good, too; I can't claim to be a tea afficianado, but it seems to me that black teas don't get as bitter as brown or green teas, and maté doesn't get bitter at all. I like to mix it with red tea; that way I can fantasize that I'm doing something healthy....

By: lodurr

lodurr — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 07:38:46 -0800

Personally, I would love nothing better than to take this to a discussion about branding, since the concept (and the fact that people believe in it so strenuously) fascinates me. But alas, I must get work done; I'm only getting paid for billable time, now, and I do have to pay the cable modem bill...

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 07:53:37 -0800

I just got here and I wanted to thank dirigibleman for brightening my day. I had to wipe off the keyboard.

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 08:13:11 -0800

Well, half the time I'm tired because I'm slightly dehydrated or my blood-sugar is low, and drinking a glass of OJ will have the same effect. I'll second that. My cure for those afternoons where I'm practically falling asleep are a 20 oz. Gatorade + a caffeine tablet. Always works for me.

By: lumpenprole

lumpenprole — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 11:43:48 -0800

I'm a big fan of Bawls *snicker*. It only tastest half as crappy as red bull and for some reason works a lot better on me. And doesn't give the high jitters like red bull does. But then, I drink A LOT of coffee, so YMMV.

By: nTeleKy

nTeleKy — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 13:27:01 -0800

It's sorta the Faygo equivalent of energy drinks, I'm guessing. Wow...you're a good guesser, it's acually made by the same company - National Beverage Products. We sold this at a dollar store I used to work at. I think it tastes better and works at least as good for less. And why isn't adrafinil scheduled (it metabolizes to modafinil)? These are the people that have cannabis in Schedule I and methamphetamine in schedule II, please don't expect them to make any sense. A lot of people will tell you matter-of-factly that there is a "different form of caffeine" in yerba maté and guarana Yerba mate contains a mixture of xanthines including caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. The claim generally is that yerba mate contains mateine, "a stereoisomer of caffeine", but caffeine has no stereoisomers. Most people think that mateine=caffeine. Florida International University studied yerba mate and found that it contained only minimal amounts of caffeine, so the stimulant effects are probably due to the combination of the different xanthines. See Wikipedia. lodurr - You didn't think mate was bitter? I drank it out of a bombilla (which ends up being about 1:1 water to mate) and I thought it was really bitter. How much mate did you use? It could've been the quality of the yerba mate I got, too - it was in a box.

By: lodurr

lodurr — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 12:29:50 -0800

nTeleKy, late getting back, but: I've only ever had mate at that concentration once, and I don't remember thinking it was bitter. The stuff I get if I drink it straight is Guyaki, in bags, which is rather pleasant-tasting, actually. Maybe it's something to do with smoke-curing -- the stuff in Morning Thunder is also smoke-cured. Anyway, it would be hard for it to be more bitter than green or brown tea. As someone who started drinking strong straight unsweetened brown tea (i.e., Lipton, Salada etc) in high school to stay awake, I have a high tolerance for bitterness in my beverages, so YMMV.