Red Bull Energy Drink (called ? (Thai) or Krating Daeng in some countries) is a beverage that originated in Thailand and has been sold in Austria, Thailand, China, Vietnam and other places. It is a well-known functional beverage brand produced and sold in more than 120 countries and regions around the world. The European version of Red Bull is a type of carbonated soft drink. It appears as a strong energy drink and contains a variety of nutrients and caffeine. , so it is often used as a refreshing or even fitness drink. The Red Bull sold in some Asian countries, mainly Thailand, is a traditional refreshing drink without gas. Among them, Thai Red Bull even produces Red Bull coffee drinks.

Features

Red Bull in Europe and the United States is a carbonated soft drink. In addition to the standard 250 ml aluminum can version, it was also the first to launch a non-alcoholic beverage in the United States in 2003. A lower-calorie version of sugar. In addition to pure drinking, Red Bull drinks are often mixed with vodka and other alcoholic drinks at parties in Europe and the United States. It is a very popular new trend among young people.

The headquarters and production lines of Red Bull are located in Fuschl am See, Austria, a small town with a population of 1,344 people not far from Salzburg. Its sales network covers more than 100 countries. In 2000, its global sales volume was 1 billion cans of 250 ml, of which the UK accounted for 260 million cans. In addition to the European version of Red Bull, in Thailand, the birthplace of this drink, the local version of Red Bull is a non-carbonated, general refreshing functional drink with relatively concentrated ingredients. It is commonly packaged in 150 ml glass bottles.

In order to increase its popularity and shape its sports image, Red Bull has always been very keen on sponsoring extreme sports (Xtreme sports) and motor sports, and has been the main sponsor of the Formula One racing team (Team Sauber) for many years. Sponsor, the company even went one step further and purchased the original Team Jaguar at the end of 2004 and changed its name to "Red Bull Racing" to participate in the 2005 event. In addition, the company also conducts a number of racing-related training activities, including establishing a racing school in Switzerland called the Red Bull Junior Team (RedBull Junior Team), and recruiting a new generation of F1 drivers through open drafts. In 2004 After completing the draft in Europe, he also began to expand the scope of the draft to North America.

History

Red Bull was originally a functional beverage brand founded by a Thai businessman Chaleo Yoovidhya in Bangkok in 1966. Its products were often used by night shift workers and long-distance freight transporters. Driving or Muay Thai (Kuaido) players use it to refresh themselves and keep fit.

In 1985, Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz, who had worked for Procter & Gamble (P&G) Asia Branch, decided to make it because of his love for this drink. The formula and trademark rights of this product were purchased and marketed in markets outside Asia. He established Red Bull GmbH in Austria in 1986, improved the formula of Red Bull drink, added carbonic acid, and turned it into a sparkling drink for sale in Austria. Compared with traditional refreshing drinks, Mateschitz packages its products in a very popular and fashionable way, which has received unprecedented response and is widely accepted by young people. In 1992, Red Bull (excluding the Thai version of Krating Daeng) was exported to a country other than Austria for the first time - Hungary, and then quickly expanded to a vast market of more than 100 countries.

The Austrian Red Bull company and factory are located in Fuschl am See, Austria, a small city not far from Salzburg.

However, not all Red Bull drinks in overseas markets are based on the Austrian version of Red Bull. For example, the Red Bull officially introduced in Canada is mainly the Thai version without carbonated gas.

In order to pass the country's food safety review, the Canadian version of Red Bull is completely free of caffeine, taurine and other refreshing agents. The ingredients only include pure sugar and vitamin B complex, so it can be used as a "liquid vitamin supplement drink" Positioning for listing. China Red Bull Company was established in 1995. Its product line is basically similar to Thai products, but it is quite different from the Austrian version of Red Bull introduced in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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Ingredients

Since the Red Bull brand drink uses two bison, which symbolizes strength, as the product trademark, there are often rumors about this brand of drink. It contains some kind of extract obtained from cattle, but this is actually a rumor denied by the manufacturer. According to official instructions, each 250 ml can of Red Bull contains the following nutrients (these are the ingredients of Red Bull drinks sold in the United States, other countries may be adjusted according to local regulations):

* Taurine: 1100 mg

* Glucuronolactone: 600 mg

* Caffeine: 80 mg

* Niacin (niacin, also known as vitamin B3): 20 mg

* Vitamin B6 (vitamin B6): 5 mg

* Pantothenic acid , also known as vitamin B5): 5 mg

* Vitamin B12 (vitamin B12): 0.005 mg

* Fructose (sucrose): 21.5 g

* Glucose: 5.25 grams

The sugar-free version of Red Bull drink does not contain fructose and glucose, but has added Acesulfame-K and aspartame. (aspartame) Two sugar substitute substances are used as flavoring to reduce calories, but the other ingredients are the same.

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Safety concerns

Due to Red Bull's high popularity in Europe, it has also become many "urban legends" (meaning future). The main character of the attack is rumors that have been proven to be true, such as the taurine contained in the drink is an extract from live cattle, or that glucuronolactone is a neurostimulant from the Vietnam War era, etc.

However, the real reason is that Red Bull contains a high dose of caffeine (usually a cup of black coffee contains 80 to 180 mg of caffeine), and it is often paired with high-alcohol drinks like vodka. Mixing alcoholic drinks with spirits increases the risk of drinking them. So far, there is no scientific evidence that clearly points to the health safety of Red Bull, but what is certain is that excessive consumption of any highly caffeinated beverage or food is harmful to the human body. In addition, although the substance taurine was first discovered in cattle, most of its current sources are artificially synthesized. Taurine is a substance originally contained in the human brain. In the absence of It can cause fatigue when eating, so supplementing with taurine can achieve a refreshing effect. In addition, ingesting trace amounts of taurine is also beneficial to the body. However, scientists have not yet found a definite conclusion as to whether taking too much taurine in an instant will cause malabsorption or health problems.

Due to its high dose of caffeine, Red Bull is considered a drug in Denmark, Norway and France and is prohibited from being sold as a general drink and can only be sold in pharmacies. It was not until the end of 2004 that Canada allowed the sale of this brand of beverage (and a special Canadian version with reduced caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone content).