Family blames popular energy drink for teen's death, lawsuit says
Family blames popular energy drink for teen's death, lawsuit says
Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAYSat, April 11, 2026 at 5:34 PM UTC
0
A family in Texas is suing the distributor of a popular energy drink, alleging their daughter died from an enlarged heart caused by drinking large amounts of caffeine.
The family of 17-year-old Larissa Nicole Rodriguez, a high school student in Weslaco, Texas, is suing Glazer’s Beer and Beverage and Glazer’s Beer and Beverage of Texas, a distributor of Alani Nu energy drinks.
In a press conference, the family’s attorney, Benny Agosto Jr., said it was suing the beverage distributor because they are "the ones that receive it, distribute it and put it all over the place, and they also fail to give any warnings." Agosto said more defendants could be added to the lawsuit.
According to the company's website, its distribution network extends to Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. USA TODAY has reached out to the company for comment.
Agosto alleged that the Alani Nu energy drinks, which Rodriguez drank often, “had inadequate warnings about the serious cardiac risks that this product brings.”
Agosto said that Rodriguez began drinking energy drinks after being influenced by social media posts that advertised them for their wellness and health benefits, in addition to an energy boost.
“First, she got into it because of social media and other social interaction with young people. At some point, she was enamored by it,” he said.
Guidance from the Food and Drug Administration recommends that adults should not consume more than 400mg of caffeine a day, while excessive caffeine in children could cause "increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, and lead to sleep problems."
'Her life was cut short'
Rodriguez died in October 2025, with the medical examiner determining the cause of death as “an enlarged heart due to stress and large amounts of caffeine,” the lawsuit filed in Hidalgo County District Court said.
During the same press conference, Agosto continued, saying that Rodriguez was “full of life, full of love, smart, academic and with a bright future,” as well as an active teenager who played tennis and was a cheerleader at her high school.
“Her life was cut short,” Agosto said during the press conference.
Advertisement
The family is seeking $1 million in damages, according to court records.
According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez had no pre-existing heart conditions or heart-related problems.
In a statement to NBC News, Celsius Inc., which bought Alani Nu back in April 2025, said it was saddened by the loss and that it takes “product safety seriously and believes consumers should have clear information about what they are drinking.”
“Alani Nu energy drinks disclose 200mg of caffeine on the can, and the label states the product is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women, or women who are nursing,” the statement said.
Celsius did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Other energy drink lawsuits
The recent lawsuit involving Alani Nu is not the only time a company has seen itself at the center of a lawsuit over energy drinks. Back in 2023, Panera was involved in multiple lawsuits due to its line of Charged Lemonade drinks.
The Charged Lemonades, a set of highly caffeinated drinks in multiple flavors, were accused of causing serious physical harm to customers who consumed them, even allegedly resulting in deaths.
Two lawsuits, filed in October and December of 2023, alleged that the drink's caffeine content caused the cardiac arrests that killed two separate people, while a third filed in 2024 alleged that the beverage caused permanent heart issues.
After the initial lawsuit, Panera changed the labels on the Charged Lemonade products, saying in a statement that it had "enhanced our existing caffeine disclosure for these beverages" out of "an abundance of caution."
In January 2024, Panera removed the drinks from its self-serve fountains and discontinued them entirely in May 2024. It reached a settlement with one family in October 2024 for an undisclosed amount.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Family says energy drink needs more warnings after teen's death
Source: “AOL Breaking”
