Hi mate, it sounds like you're thinking about trying energy drinks but wondering when is best.

Here are some things worth thinking about.

The effects of any drug (including caffeine, which is one of the main ingredients in energy drinks) vary from person to person. How caffeine affects a person depends on many things, including their size, weight and health and also whether the person is used to taking it or not, and the amount they take.

A standard 250ml can of energy drink has approximately 80mg of caffeine. As well as caffeine, many energy drinks have large amounts of sugar. For example, a 250ml can of Red Bull has 27 grams of sugar, which is over 5 teaspoons. Some energy drinks also have herbs and diet supplements in them, such as taurine and ginseng. Some health benefits may be associated with these kinds of ingredients, however energy drinks generally don't have enough in them for that to be the case.

In Australia, the recommended dietary intake of caffeine for young people aged 10–15 is no more than 95mg of caffeine per day. (These recommendations were developed in 2003 and are currently being updated.)

In Canada, the guidelines for young people aged 13 and over say no more than 2.5 milligrams per kg of body weight. The average weight of a 13 year old male like you is 47 kg, so that means 47 x 2.5, which equals 117.5 mgs of caffeine. This is about 1 and a half 250 ml cans of Red Bull.

To answer your question, there is no recommended age to drink energy drinks. And anyone can buy them, no matter their age. However, most energy drinks come with a warning on them saying something like "not recommended for children" (which means anyone under 18), and "not recommended for caffeine-sensitive persons".

If you're into sport or something like that and want to boost your energy levels, the Dieticians Association of Australia says that eating a healthy and balanced diet is a better way to go than drinking energy drinks. If you do decide to drink them though, the key is moderation: no more than 1–2 250ml cans of energy drink per day. Cans of Red Bull actually come with a warning that you shouldn't drink more than 2 per day. If you are feeling anxious, irritable, or your breathing and heart rates have increased after drinking them, you may need to cut right down or stop drinking them totally.

Hope this helps.