Out of 30 upper school students polled, 23.3% percent said they consume caffeine once a day, 36.7% said a few times a week, 20% said on special occasions, 10% said multiple times a day, and the remaining 10% said rarely ever.
The majority of students reported their favorite form of caffeine to be coffee, tea, and energy drinks, and almost every response reported that they started drinking caffeine between ages 12 and 16.
“I consume caffeine probably two or three times a day, it’s either an energy drink or some form of coffee… my go to order is a cappuccino with oat milk or either Celsius or Redbull,” junior Lina Smith, an avid coffee drinker, said.
Twenty one students said that they consume caffeine to boost their energy and 28 said they consume caffeine because they like the taste.
For teenagers, caffeine is more than a wake-up alarm. Drinking caffeine is a socially influenced practice, via social media and as a form of quality time spent.
Going out for coffee with friends is a longtime tradition in our culture, and now, more and more options are available to those who don’t like the bitter taste of coffee but still want to participate in this cultural practice.
A rising trend in energy drink consumption is re-shaping the marketing of caffeine with higher amounts of sugar and additives, especially appealing to younger consumers and athletes.
The most popular brands of canned caffeine drinks among the polled students were Yerba Mate, Celsius, Redbull, and Monster.
The recommended caffeine intake for adolescents ages 12-18 is below 100 mg of caffeine a day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Yet, energy drinks contain around 100-200 mg of caffeine per serving.
So, what? Does it matter that the majority of adolescents are consuming caffeine on a regular basis?
Caffeine is a stimulant drug: it has the ability to increase brain and nervous system activity, and increase circulation of cortisol and adrenaline in the body, often providing a source of energy, focus, or uplift of mood due to short-term serotonin or dopamine boosts.
In moderation, caffeine is like an accessible power-up.
“I think on the days where I don’t have coffee in the first few hours of the morning I have very low energy. In the morning it’s like I ‘need’ something. For basketball, when I have an energy drink, I play so much better,” Lina said.
Then again, caffeine is a drug. For teens especially, the substance has a high likelihood of sparking a dependence on its effects.
Withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritability can occur, and heavy use spikes resilience to caffeine that will then encourage an individual to drink more to feel the effects.
Consuming 1,000 mg of caffeine, approximately four Starbucks grande dark roast cups can cause detrimental side effects, including insomnia, restlessness, and agitation.
Along with a pattern of dependence, caffeine has mental health implications such as stress, disrupted sleep patterns, decreased concentration, and, in some cases, development of anxiety.
Health implications include higher blood pressure, dehydration, irregular heartbeats, and digestive issues, according to the National Library of Medicine.
“I think caffeine can definitely turn into an addiction. I drink it every day. I think that if I stopped, the first week I would just feel like I need it or crave caffeine of some sort, but I do think people should drink it because it’s delicious,” Lina said.
Developing a reliance on caffeine in adolescent years can set up a lifetime of using it as a coping method for sleep deprivation, which is neither sustainable nor a real solution.
It is crucial for teenagers to practice healthy habits rather than turning to short-term, addictive “fixes.”
Still, in moderate amounts, caffeine can bring people together and serve as a pick-me-up.
The likelihood of dependence on caffeine does not mean it should be completely cut out; it should be limited.
“[Caffeine] is something I will drink for the rest of my life, I think especially when I’m older and I’m with friends we will sit down and have a cup of coffee and people watch,” Lina said.