Is BAWLS Guarana an energy drink or a soda?
                                
                                
                                •
                                
                                
                        
                                    
                                    3 min read                                
                            
                                According to the manufacturer, BAWLS Guarana was released in 1996 to provide college students with a great-tasting, highly caffeinated alternative to coffee before the term 'energy drink' was even widely used. The answer to whether BAWLS Guarana is an energy drink is a nuanced one, and it depends on how you define the category.