Casey's Sets Age Limit to Purchase Energy Shots, Pills

ANKENY, Iowa -- Teenagers looking to purchase energy shots from Casey's General Stores Inc. will now hear the words, "Let me see some ID."

According to a report by KMOX, the Midwest convenience store chain is no longer selling energy shots and pills -- products in its "energy endcap" -- to any customer under the age of 18.

However, Casey's is checking IDs for only a select few energy drinks, and there is currently no law regulating who can purchase these products, according to other media reports.

“For [Casey's], we just had a concern that we would hate to see a minor purchase multiple energy shots or pills and basically consume them in a manner they’re not intended to be used for,” said Brian Johnson, Casey's vice president of finance. "It's just one of those things, it doesn't feel right to sell to kids, so we made the decision not to do it."

Dr. Louis Krenn told WMC-TV that energy shots are dangerous due to potential toxicity from B vitamins, which can lead to numbness, tingling and neurological disorders. Some energy shot brands contain more than 100 percent of the daily value for B6 and B12 vitamins. In addition, one shot can have as much caffeine in it as a large cup of coffee and most people don't stop there, the doctor said.

"Below the age of 18, basically sometimes they don't make the best decisions," Johnson told the news station. "It's not the fact that one shot has more caffeine than a cup of coffee, it's the fact they could buy five of them and make a very concentrated drink and drink it all at once."