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The Truth: Is Daily Consumption of Irn-Bru Energy Safe?

The Truth: Is Daily Consumption of Irn-Bru Energy Safe?

Short Answer: Yes, you can drink Irn-Bru every day in moderation.

With the world becoming more fast-paced than ever, energy drinks have become a lifestyle and a necessity for many.

Who’s in need of an energy boost to keep up with their studies, career, goals, sex, and life?

Everyone!

So if you’re looking to try out a new energy drink, perhaps it’s worth giving Irn-Bru Energy a try.

Perhaps you’re wondering if Irn Bru can be your go-to energizer every day. Indeed, consider this drink as your everyday pick-me-up!

I’m sure you’ve got a long list of questions about Irn Bru. Well, whatever it is that you’re curious about, this article aims to help you answer them.

So, let’s get the low down on baby Bru.

Is Irn-Bru Energy Drink a soft drink?

No, Irn-Bru Energy isn’t a soft drink.

Irn-Bru is a brand that comes in a few variants, including these two very different ones: the Irn-Bru Sparkling Flavoured Soft Drink and the Irn-Bru Energy.

Unsurprisingly, these drinks have often been confused with one another, mainly because of their name. So to clear the confusion, let’s take a look at their history, shall we?

A.G. Barr, the firm that produces these drinks first introduced them in Scotland, Ireland, and the north of England.

Irn-Bru Energy was launched in the summer of 2019.

On the other hand, the Irn-Bru Sparkling Flavoured Soft Drink which was launched years before is already a top-selling drink in Scotland. In fact, it’s so famous it’s been crowned as Scotland’s “Other National Drink” (after whisky, of course).

So, that’s probably why the energy drink has yet to receive more recognition.

The newbie has been hiding in the shadows of its famous cousin. Poor thing!

Does Irn-Bru Energy Drink contain a banned ingredient?

Irritable mood.
Keep an eye on banned ingredients in your energy drinks.

Yes, Irn-Bru Energy contains a banned ingredient.

It all started with the Irn-Bru Sparkling Soft Drink getting banned in Canada.

It was 2014 when the drink was declared illegal in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency discovered that the fizzy drink contained Ponceau 4R, red food coloring.

The additive is said to cause hyperactivity in children. Otherwise, it’s relatively safe for adults.

The manufacturer, Barrs then went on a mission to find an alternative to the food coloring that is in line with the guidelines of the Food Standards Agency.

However, in 2020, a quick scroll on Irn-Bru’s official website revealed something rather shocking. Every single product under the brand still has Ponceau 4R listed as one of the added food colorings. Shocker right?

And, that includes the latest member of the Irn-Bru family, Irn-Bru Energy. I guess A.G. Barr is positively sure that kids won’t be tempted to take a sip from any of their products.

Are Irn Bru 32 and Irn-Bru Energy the same product?

No, Irn-Bru 32 and Irn-Bru Energy are not the same product.

Irn Bru 32 was an energy drink that was produced way back in 2006 by A.G. Barr. The energy drink market back then wasn’t very huge.

The FBI located a tweet from Irn-Bru’s official account from 2016. In the tweet, a rep from the company described the Irn-Bru 32 as a limited edition product before adding a playful “Never say never.”

This came as a reply to a fan who was curious if the business still produced the energy drink.

Then, in the summer of 2019, the company launched another product in the energy drink range. Irn-Bru Energy was born in Scotland, The Land of The Brave.

Look closely and note that they are different in more ways than one. The Irn-Bru 32 has a smoother texture, although it has a sharp taste.

On the other hand, the latest energy drink has a unique flavor to it. Irn-Bru Energy also comes in a taller, thinner can, unlike the Irn-Bru 32.

In my opinion, it was a smart move to make the packaging resemble other energy drink brands.

Warning: excessive profanity in the 2016’s Irn-Bru 32 ad

Can Irn Bru Energy keep me awake?

Yes, Irn-Bru Energy can keep you awake.

Every can contain 32mg of caffeine per 100 ml. That’s pretty much the amount you’ll find in a medium latte from a high street coffee chain.

For an average can of 330ml, that’s over 105mg of caffeine. So, count on me.

With about three and a half cans, you’ll be done with your caffeine intake for the day. 

That is if you don’t have any other sources of caffeine in your diet.

I personally think that your brain will be stimulated enough to block the sleep receptors. It’ll definitely keep the blood flowing and adrenaline pumping. So you won’t be dozing off anytime soon.

You see, the FDA recommends up to only 400mg per day for a healthy adult. That’s 3 to 5 cups of coffee.

The caffeine content in Irn-Bru Energy seems pretty healthy if you stay within limits. But, here’s what might worsen in terms of your health, if you reach for the fourth can of Irn-Bru Energy in one day.

  • caffeine overdose such as diarrhea, hallucination, irregular heartbeat, convulsion, chest pain, jittery, dizziness, etc.
  • anxiety disorder
  • bipolar disorder
  • bleeding disorder
  • diabetes
  • epilepsy
  • glaucoma
  • high blood pressure
  • loss of bladder control
  • osteoporosis
  • Parkinson disease
  • schizophrenia

Yikes.

Ask yourself: will a fourth can be worth all that potential suffering?

What flavors are there in Irn-Bru Energy?

There’s only one flavor in Irn-Bru Energy.

According to Barr’s, the soft drink firm that launched the energy drink, the new formula contains the iconic flavor of Irn-Bru’s top-secret essence.

By ‘iconic’, I think they were referring to the Regular Irn-Bru Sparkling Soft Drink.

But, you’ll find two variants to the drink: Sugar and No Sugar.

So, if you’re practicing a low-calorie diet, you’ll have a choice to stay away from sugar.

I find the idea of having two variants by the Scotland-based firm to be pretty thoughtful, given all the mayhem in early January 2018.

At that time, there was outrage among the Scots when the firm decided to cut down half of the sugar content in the Regular Irn-Bru Sparkling Soft Drink.

I personally think it was a good initiative by the manufacturer to reduce the calorie count in the drink. It was also probably a move to avoid the tax on sugar that the UK government planned to impose.

But, I guess the Scots thought differently when they posted an online petition, demanding the company reverse its decision.

Here is an excerpt from one of the petitioners who was interviewed by BBC radio:

“I believe that a responsible adult should have the choice as to what poisons they want to put in their body.”

Ryan Allen for BBC Radio, 2019.

Great Scots!

With the two selections that come with Irn-Bru Energy Drink, you will get to buy the one that appeals to you most.

No need for any protests or petitions!

How much sugar is in Irn-Bru Energy?

There’s 36g of sugar in a can of Irn-Bru Energy with sugar.

If you like your energy drinks low on the sugar count, go for the sugar-free version instead.

You could say that sugar is the No.2 source of energy in any energy drink. It gives you additional energy and gets rid of the bitter taste of caffeine.

Now, that’s all good. But, excessive consumption of sugar comes with a side of trouble. And, by that, I mean serious health hazards like:

  • sugar crash
  • depression
  • tooth cavities
  • joint pain
  • premature aging of the skin
  • damaged liver
  • heart diseases such as heart attacks and strokes
  • type 2 diabetes
  • kidney damage
  • sudden weight gain
  • erectile dysfunction

Trust me, the list goes on and on, unless you start taking control of your daily sugar consumption.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a daily sugar intake of less than 37.5g for men and less than 25g for women.

SexRecommended Daily Intake
Men150 kcal / 37.5g / 9 tsp
Women100 kcal / 25g / 6 tsp
Recommended Daily Intake of Sugar by AHA

I can’t stress how much following this guideline by AHA has made me feel healthier and safer, knowing I’m reducing the risks of so many health complications.

So, is the sugar-free version of Irn-Bru Energy Drink any better?

In my opinion, not that much.

Even with zero-sugar drinks, you’ll still find a number of artificial sweeteners added to them.

It’s normal to find at least one like sucralose, aspartame, or Ace-K. And, if you skim through the ingredients list on a can of sugar-free Irn-Bru Energy, you’ll see aspartame and Ace-K noted as sweeteners.

The FDA has approved the two sugar alternatives as safe for consumption. However, it’s only safe when consumed in moderation.

The daily recommended limit for added sugar by the FDA is set to not more than 10% of calories.

If you do the math, that’s about 50g of added sugar per day based on a 2000 calorie diet. 

While artificial sweeteners don’t pose any serious threat to your health, there will still be minor issues like tooth decay, weight gain, and poor nutrition.

If you’re looking for sugar-free energy drinks, I have a bunch of recommendations for you in this article.

What added ingredients are in the Irn-Bru Energy Drink?

Taurine, niacin, and B Vitamins are added ingredients in Irn-Bru Energy Drink.

The energy drink may be made from a new formula, but it still preserves the essence of the Regular Irn-Bru Sparkling Soft Drink.

You’ll find 36g of sugar in the normal Irn-Bru Energy Drink and artificial sweeteners in the sugar-free version.

To put the ‘energy’ in energy drinks, there are special ingredients that are mixed in.

Taurine works best when it’s combined with the ideal amount of caffeine. It can enhance your athletic performance, boost your exercise capacity, and improve your mental performance as well.

Irn-Bru Energy contains B Vitamins, namely B3, B6, and B12. To be exact, there is 4.8mg of B3, 0.42mg of B6, and 0.75mg of B12 per serving.

Vitamin B3 or niacin is a key nutrient for every part of your body. It’s an antioxidant that:

Both Vitamin B6 and B12 help with many health conditions such as anemia, osteoporosis, eyesight, mood and depression, memory loss, heart diseases, hair, nails, and skin as well as give you the necessary energy boost.

However, if you go overboard with B3 in the drink, you could end up with acute hepatitis instead.

Your liver can get damaged as niacin causes toxicity, especially when there’s an overdose.

High doses of B6 also contribute to nerve damage, light sensitivity, and painful skin lesions.

As Mark Twain used to say, too much of anything is bad. So, remember to practice self-control when you’re drinking Irn-Bru Energy.

Does Irn-Bru Energy taste like Coca-Cola Energy?

Irn-Bru does not taste like Coca-Cola Energy!

No, Irn-Bru Energy doesn’t exactly taste like Coca-Cola Energy.

I get it if you thought that the two brands taste the same. I mean, they are energy drink products that come from carbonated drink manufacturers.

But from the word of others, it seems that there are noticeable differences between the two when it comes to taste.

Irn-Bru Energy has a similar refreshing taste as the Original Irn Bru or Irn Bru Extra. Some might find the flavour a little overwhelming but that might be due to the caffeine in the beverage.

You might taste a hint of Red Bull in it too. Overall, both the sugar-free and non-sugar-free versions are equally good.

While it doesn’t taste entirely like Coca-Cola Energy, you can still sense the smooth texture of the drink on your palate.

Coca-Cola Energy, on the other hand, is claimed to be softer and a little bit more refreshing at first sip.

Yet, the initial jolt that you can get from Irn-Bru Energy is missing when it comes to Coca-Cola Energy.

So if you’re looking for an instant pick-me-up, maybe, look elsewhere.

The beverage is based on the classic flavor of the legendary Coke, although some might say it’s more of Fentiman Curiosity Cola.

Here’s one thing that Coca-Cola Energy shares with Irn-Bru Energy. You’ll sense a taste of the base product, followed by some other overpowering ingredients.

When it comes to Coca-Cola Energy, imagine chewing on a fruit-flavored chewing gum that’s slowly running out of flavor. But still a little refreshing and tasty.

Is it ok to mix alcohol with Irn Bru Energy?

No, it’s not okay to mix alcohol with Irn-Bru Energy.

The FDA does not recognize the act of mixing alcohol and caffeine as safe. When people drink the combo, they don’t realize how intoxicated they can become.

The caffeine in the energy drink reduces the effects of alcohol. You’ll feel less tired, less sedated, and twice more stimulated.

But in the end, your body doesn’t register how much alcohol you’ve had. So, you’ll be drinking more, for a longer time.

If you’re not someone with high alcohol tolerance, then there could be serious repercussions like medical hazards and sometimes, even death.

Can you drink Irn-Bru Energy every day?

Yes, I personally think you can drink Irn-Bru Energy every day, but only if it’s within a controlled amount.

There are 153 calories per can, so you probably want to also consider the effect on your waistline of drinking more than one of them daily.

But, I highly recommend that you choose the sugar-free version and not the sugary one.

To be honest, there’s the risk of some health concerns if you drink Irn-Bru Energy daily for a long duration.

If you ask me, I’d say 1-2 cans of Irn-Bru Energy is fine if you’re a healthy adult with an otherwise balanced diet.

In case you have doubts regarding your energy drink intake, please check with your doctor.

Where to buy Irn-Bru Energy?

You can head to the stores to buy Irn-Bru Energy if you’re anywhere in Scotland, Ireland, and North England.

Some Alternatives to Irn-Bru Energy

If you’re looking for some alternatives to Irn-Bru Energy, here are some similar drinks to consider.

If you prefer a sugar-free drink, you can always switch to Irn-Bru Energy No Sugar instead, which I recommend.

For a new experience with energy supplements, try getting a dose of Vivarin Caffeine Pills or Make it Mio from Kraft Foods.

Powdered energy drinks make great options too. Plus, they’re easy to mix and usually more affordable than many other drinks on the market.

REIZE Energy Drink (10 out of 10)

REIZE
Try REIZE now!

REIZE is unlike any energy drink you’ve had before.

It’s a powdered drink that comes in convenient sachets. You can get creative and mix REIZE with sparkling water, soda, or just plain water. That’s how versatile this drink is.

With 50mg of caffeine, there’s not much caffeine in REIZE as opposed to Irn-Bru Energy. Yet, it still makes a great energizer since there are many essential ingredients like taurine, B vitamins, and ginseng.

They combine perfectly and turn REIZE into a nutrient-packed energy booster – with no crash.

REIZE is a zero-sugar drink, so there’s no need to worry about sugar crashes or excessive calories.

REIZE only includes ingredients that have been approved for everyone. That means no banned coloring or preservatives.

You can get REIZE shipped right to your doorstep for only about $1 per drink. That’s with shipping included.

It’s definitely more affordable than Irn-Bru Energy or all the other brands listed above.

Give REIZE a shot and it might just be the energy drink you’ve always been looking for.

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