Objective  To investigate the prevalence of energy drink (ED) consumption and the association of health-risk behavior and sensation seeking with ED consumption among senior high school students.

  Methods  Using convenience sampling, we conducted a self-administered on site survey among all students (n = 3 544) of a senior high school in Chongqing city during March – June 2018. Information on ED consumption and potential correlates of ED consumption were collected with questionnaires and analyzed statistically.

  Results  Of the 3 283 students (46.3% males and 53.7% females, aged 16.51 ± 2.54 years) with valid responses, 986 (30.0%) reported having ED during past one month; 914 (27.8%) had ED at the frequency of 1 – 9 times and only 70 (2.2%) had ED 10 times or more during past one month. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed following significant influencing factors of ED consumption: gender (male vs. female: odds ratio OR = 2.412), schooling grade (grade one vs. other grades: OR = 2.192), frequency of having breakfast (sometimes vs. every day: OR = 1.377), smoking (never vs. ever: OR = 0.603), alcohol drinking (never vs. ever: OR = 0.722), tendency of internet addiction (no vs. yes: OR = 0.824), and sensation seeking (yes vs. no: OR = 1.046).

  Conclusion  Energy drink consumption is prevalent and influenced by multiple factors including health-risk behavior and sensation seeking among senior high school students in Chongqing city. The situation needs to be concerned for health promotion of the students.