Energy drinks are beverages which contain legal stimulants, vitamins, and minerals, including caffeine, guarana, taurine, various forms of ginseng, maltodextrin, carnitine, creatine, and ginkgo biloba. Some may contain high levels of sugar, or glucose. These drinks are typically marketed towards young people, students, people 'on the go' and those who play sports. Many such beverages are flavored and/or colored to resemble soft drinks.

Energy drinks are different from sports drinks. Most energy drinks simply provide lots of sugar and caffeine, with no healthful purpose. Sports drinks, on the other hand, are intended to replenish electrolytes, sugar, water, and other nutrients, and are usually isotonic (containing the same proportions as found in the human body).