In this consumer-driven world, profits often overshadow ethics. But as overconsumption rises, it’s time to question: are values being sacrificed for sales?

Because of the lack of care on the companies’ part, everyday buying choices become dangerous for supplying corporate greed, including daily items like energy drinks in backpacks and school vending machines.

The energy drink industry amounted to $193 billion in revenue in 2023 worldwide. This booming business faces several challenges, one of the big ones being health concerns.

In 2011, the CDC recorded that 1,499 adolescents aged 12 to 17 went to the emergency room for emergencies related to energy drinks. Additives in the energy drink can intensify the effect of caffeine, causing anxiety. A 16 oz energy drink has about 54-62 grams of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends consuming less than 36 grams of sugar daily.

There have been efforts to stop the danger of the energy drink industry, such as schools refusing to sell energy drinks on property. In Suffolk County, New York, anyone under 18 is prohibited from buying energy drinks.

Despite the alarming warnings about the potential health risks, it is surprising that the government still needs to enforce regulations on the amount of sugar that can be added to these drinks.

All of this is to say the restrictions are more on the consumers than they should be on the big companies. Nothing changes in the company by restricting the sale of energy drinks to minors. And because there is no legal limit, energy drink companies will keep producing drinks with dangerous amounts of sugar.

This pattern of sales and consumer regulation and lack of actual in-company or production changes is seen across industries, especially in the booming fast fashion industry.

While choosing not to support companies like this is great, the change must happen on a larger scale. It requires top-level support from the company itself or the government.

The government has to recognize these problems and be responsible for pushing for change in these seemingly untouchable companies and industries. But here is what regular citizens and shoppers can do: take a step back to see where the problem starts to stop it at the source. Besides not buying from the big bad companies, calling for change at the legislative level is possible. Write to a legislator or senator. Elected officials can propose or block legislation and amend bills.

Making a significant change starts small, but don’t stop there. Don’t stop refusing to purchase from harmful companies, and don’t stop boycotting bad businesses, but also remember to think bigger to do more.

Read the counter argument: Reclaim power as a consumer, hold companies accountable