energy shot
{{Short description|Type of energy drink}}
Energy shots are a specialized kind of energy drink that contain a dose of the stimulant caffeine in a small amount of liquid. Whereas most energy drinks are sold in cans or bottles, energy shots are usually sold in 50ml bottles. Energy shots can contain the same total amount of caffeine, vitamins or other functional ingredients as their larger versions, and may be considered concentrated forms of energy drinks.[http://www.bevnet.com/news/2008/4-30-2008-energy_shots.asp “Little competition: energy shots aim for big” profits] "Micro shot" energy drinks also exist, containing only 1–5 teaspoonfuls (5–25 mL) of liquid.
Ingredients
Similar to energy drinks, energy shots contain caffeine, vitamins, and herbs such as guarana, ginseng or ginkgo biloba, taurine, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, creatine or glucuronolactone. Some energy shots contain sugar; however, many brands also offer artificially-sweetened 'diet' versions. Some decaf varieties are also offered. The central ingredient in most energy shots is caffeine, the same stimulant found in coffee or tea. Vitamin based energy shots contain numerous additional vitamins and supplements for sustenance, sustainment, and overall health. 5-Hour contains vitamin levels sometimes hundreds of times higher than the recommended RDA, according to a 2010 test by ConsumerLab.com.{{cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Clare|title=What's In A Bottle Of 5-Hour Energy?|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2012/02/08/whats-in-a-bottle-of-5-hour-energy/|access-date=Feb 27, 2012|work=Forbes}} Some energy shots include electrolytes, and others include a selection of vitamins.{{Cn|date=March 2024}}
The average 50ml energy shot has about 80 mg of caffeine. This is approximately equivalent to a cup of coffee.{{Cn|date=March 2024}}
Effects
The functional ingredients of energy shots are comparable to those of energy drinks, and their effects on improvement in mental and cognitive performances and subjective alertness are in line with the effects of traditional energy drinks. Vitamin based energy shots have variable benefits dependent on the additional ingredients.{{Cn|date=March 2024}}
History
The idea of energy shots started decades ago in Japan, where small “tonics” became very popular among consumers, served highly concentrated and without carbonation. With the introduction of energy drinks as of the late 1980s, the efficacy of these energy shots started to travel the world as a new product format. In 2003, the founder of 5-Hour Energy discovered an energy drink at a natural products trade show and formulated a similar product reducing the content from 16 to 2 ounces but keeping the energizing effects. Daily Finance credits them with largely creating the energy shot market.{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Eamon|title=5-Hour Energy: A Success Equal Parts Caffeine, Chemistry and Meditation|url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/02/09/5-hour-energy-a-success-equal-parts-caffeine-chemistry-and-med/|publisher=Daily Finance|access-date=Feb 9, 2012}} By 2008, there were over 25 brands offering energy shots in the US alone.[http://www.bevspectrum.com/issue/SpectumMarch2008/2008EnergyDrink] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20081120184728/http://www.bevspectrum.com/issue/SpectumMarch2008/2008EnergyDrink|date=November 20, 2008}} In 2009, major energy drink producer Red Bull launched an energy shot.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2008/10-29-2008-red_bull_energy_shot.asp |title=Red Bull to introduce an energy shot in 2009 |publisher=BevNET.com |date=2008-10-29 |access-date=2012-10-13}} By 2011, energy shots became so popular that 5-Hour Energy sold $1 billion of their product at retail.{{cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Clare|title=The Mystery Monk Making Billions With 5-Hour Energy|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2012/02/08/manoj-bhargava-the-mystery-monk-making-billions-with-5-hour-energy/|work=Forbes Magazine|access-date=Feb 17, 2012}}
Although originally marketed in the US, energy shots are also becoming popular in other parts of the world, such as Europe,{{Cite web |url=http://www.just-drinks.com/ia.aspx?id=1339 |title=POWERSHOT ™ EUROpe's NO.1 ENERGY SHOT ARRIVES IN THE UK OVER 1m UNITS SOLD IN EUROPE |access-date=2009-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210075551/http://www.just-drinks.com/ia.aspx?id=1339 |archive-date=2009-02-10 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.zenithinternational.com/market_industry_reports/report_detail.asp?id=209&desc=Energy+Shot+Drinks |title=Market reports |publisher=Zenithinternational.com |access-date=2012-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227062545/http://www.zenithinternational.com/market_industry_reports/report_detail.asp?id=209 |archive-date=2010-02-27 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Emminent - Energize your day!|url=http://ch.emmi.com/uploads/media/080917_Emmi_MM_Emminent.pdf|publisher=Medienmitteilung|access-date=Dec 18, 2014|archive-date=December 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218155845/http://ch.emmi.com/uploads/media/080917_Emmi_MM_Emminent.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Steaz Launches Organic, Fair Trade Energy Shot|date=29 January 2009 |url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2009/1-29-2009-steaz_energy_shot|publisher=Bevnet|access-date=Dec 18, 2014}}
The products are aimed at customers who seek high efficacy with little liquid intake, and include truck drivers and students.{{cite web|last=Klineman|first=Jeffrey|title=Little competition: energy shots aim for big profits|date=30 April 2008 |url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2008/4-30-2008-energy_shots.asp|publisher=Bevnet|access-date=30 July 2012}}
Products
As of June 2009, there were approximately 250 energy shot brands in the US. 5-Hour Energy owned 90% of the market share in 2011, according to research firm of Symphony IRI.{{cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Clare|title=The Mystery Monk Making Billions With 5-Hour Energy|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2012/02/08/manoj-bhargava-the-mystery-monk-making-billions-with-5-hour-energy/|work=Forbes Magazine|access-date=Feb 27, 2012}}
Some of the manufacturers of energy shots also market energy drinks, however, crossover success has not been common for the larger brands such as Monster and Rockstar.[http://www.bevspectrum.com/issue/May-June_2009/Red_Bullback_In_The_Herd__But_Ready_To_Bust_Out "Red Bull Back In The Herd, But Ready To Bust Out"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722144034/http://www.bevspectrum.com/issue/May-June_2009/Red_Bullback_In_The_Herd__But_Ready_To_Bust_Out |date=July 22, 2011 }} Red Bull, the leader of the energy drink category,[http://mygreensdaily.com/beverage-spectrum-magazine-ranked-red-bull-as-top-selling-energy-drink/ Beverage Spectrum Magazine ranked Red Bull as top energy drink]{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} launched an energy shot of its own in April 2009.[http://www.bevnet.com/news/2009/4-9-2009-red_bull_energy_shot "Red Bull unveils energy shot"]