This article was displayed on the ChosunBiz RM Report site at 5:21 a.m. on May 14, 2026.
The high-caffeine beverage market is growing rapidly in Korea. Coffee franchise companies have effectively raised caffeine content by launching large-size coffees, and beverage companies are accelerating the expansion of lineups of energy drinks containing caffeine. The mood contrasts with some countries that are tightening regulations on high-caffeine drinks to protect youth health.
According to the coffee franchise industry on the 14th, Dunkin recently launched a limited 1.4-liter (L) "Giant Bucket" coffee in Korea. The regular product contains 370 mg of caffeine, and the iced blended product contains 541 mg. The iced blended product exceeds the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety's recommended daily caffeine intake for adults (400 mg). EDIYA COFFEE also released a 1L large-capacity bottled drink for delivery and takeout only.
The competition for large-size coffee has already spread among low-priced coffee brands. MEGA MGC COFFEE's "Iced Megaricano" is 946 mL with 290.8 mg of caffeine. The Venti's "Iced Americano jumbo size" is 960 mL with 336 mg, and COMPOSE COFFEE's "Bigpose Americano" is 946 mL with 371 mg of caffeine. Some products are close to the daily recommended amount. As demand grows to seek value for money amid high inflation, low-priced coffee is performing well, and as more consumers try to buy larger quantities at once, the large-size beverage market is expanding rapidly.
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety recommends that adults consume less than 400 mg of caffeine per day, and that adolescents consume 2.5 mg or less per kilogram of body weight. For a 60-kg adolescent, the appropriate daily amount is less than 150 mg. In this context, the caffeine content of energy drinks on the market is around 60–150 mg. Energy drinks contain functional ingredients such as caffeine and taurine to help reduce fatigue, boost stamina, and improve concentration. Representative energy drinks sold in Korea include Lotte Chilsung Beverage's "Hot Six" (caffeine content 86 mg per 355 mL), Coca-Cola (LG H&H)'s "Monster Energy" (100 mg), and Dongsuh Beverage's "Red Bull" (88.75 mg). Demand continues to grow. Lotte Chilsung Beverage said its energy drink sales in the first quarter of this year rose 8.7% from a year earlier.
Although the caffeine content of individual products does not exceed the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety's recommended standards, the industry notes that the energy drink market itself is growing rapidly. In the past, they were strongly perceived as high-caffeine, high-sugar drinks, but recently the number of zero-sugar, low-calorie, and vitamin-fortified products has increased, expanding the consumer base.
However, as more people consume energy drinks in addition to coffee, concerns are emerging that total caffeine intake may increase. Also, 500 mL large-can lineups have recently expanded. In the case of "Hot Six The King Power," the caffeine content is 140 mg, which means a single can is close to the recommended daily caffeine intake for adolescents.
In contrast to the growth of the high-caffeine beverage market in Korea, moves to tighten regulations are continuing overseas. The United Kingdom is pushing a bill to ban the sale of drinks containing 150 mg or more of caffeine per liter to youths under 16. Spain is also seeking to ban the sale of energy drinks to those under 16. It is also considering restricting sales of products with excessively high caffeine content to those under 18. The measures reflect concerns that excessive caffeine intake can cause sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease.
In Korea, by contrast, under the Enforcement Rules of the Food Labeling and Advertising Act, only the labeling of total caffeine content and the phrase "contains high caffeine" is mandatory. There are no regulations restricting manufacturing or sales themselves. Experts suggest that, rather than regulations restricting manufacturing and sales as in Europe, labels should be made clearer and related education is needed.
Kang Jae-heon, a family medicine professor at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, said, "At convenience stores and cafes, caffeine drinks are not sold by distinguishing between adults and adolescents, so regulation is not easy in reality," and added, "However, for large-size products that approach or exceed the recommended daily caffeine intake with just one serving, sellers should make labels and warning phrases clearer." Kwon O-ran, an emeritus professor in the Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management at Ewha Womans University, said, "Rather than regulations such as sales bans, we should adhere more strictly to current labeling standards and strengthen youth education and campaigns."
A food industry official said, "Some consumers perceived energy drinks as less healthy than coffee, but recently demand has grown to replenish energy with energy drinks," and added, "We are expanding lineups such as zero-sugar products and those containing large amounts of vitamins and taurine to change negative perceptions."