Energy Drinks Face Scrutiny in New York

New York state's attorney general apparently is a little skeptical about the wonder claims of three popular energy drinks. Eric Schneiderman issued subpoenas to three big players—Monster Beverage; PepsiCo, maker of AMP; and Living Essentials, maker of 5-Hour Energy drink, report the Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The subpoenas request information about how the companies market the drinks, which are carbonated and high in caffeine.

Critics say the drinks provide all their boost thanks to that caffeine, even if advertisements would lead you to believe it's a result of added vitamins and other healthy-sounding ingredients. Energy drinks are big money-makers for the soft-drink industry, but they're also more loosely regulated than traditional soda, notes the Journal. "You're better off drinking a cup of coffee," says one analyst of the beverages at ConsumerLab.com. (More energy drink stories.)