There's a comic -- possibly Penny Arcade, although I couldn't find it to be sure -- that lays out why I'll never drink a 5 Hour Energy, or any other energy shot for that matter. It's a shot of chemicals, with pretty much nothing else to it. If I wanted that, I'd take a pill. Energy drinks in general have ridiculous amounts of caffeine, as in dangerous levels. I stick to Vault Soda, Mountain Dew, and the occasional cup of coffee if I really need the caffeine boost.
As an aside, I've always felt that marketing these energy drinks to teenagers has been the single most brilliant yet evil business move since big tobacco did the same thing with cigarettes. Think about it; caffeine is highly physically addictive. Keep any coffee drinker away from their morning coffee and see how they do -- or better yet, don't, assuming you value your own safety. Energy drinks have caffeine levels comparable to a cup of coffee, but teenagers drink them like they would a soda, because that's essentially what they are. Teenagers drink sodas like water, because they're just as hydrating, and taste much better. They aren't really thinking about the fact that they're also consuming seriously high levels of an addictive stimulant. Coffee drinkers, on the other hand, generally have one mug in the morning, with additional drinks as they get tired during the work day.
