Caffeinated energy drinks are a common sight in high schools, fueled by student discounts from nearby shops such as Atomic Coffee Bar and Vibrant Coffee. Though these drinks provide a short energy boost, they tend to cause more side effects than expected.
“Energy drinks can help you stay awake, but if I drink too much I can’t sleep well. Then I’m even more tired the next day without it,” junior Juha Kim stated. Excessive caffeine intake disrupts sleep patterns in teens, who make up 30% to 50% of all energy drinks consumed.
Despite their popularity, health professionals express concerns about the negative effects of energy drinks. Energy drinks contain caffeine, sugar and various additives, which can lead to serious health issues.
Excessive consumption of these drinks leads to symptoms such as tachycardia (Heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute while resting) and cardiac arrhythmias (Irregular heartbeat, causing more symptoms). Of course, this wouldn’t be a problem if students were to drink caffeinated energy drinks moderately (Less than 100 milligrams of caffeine a day, about one cup of coffee).
However, companies such as Atomic Coffee Bar promote their highly caffeinated beverages through social media, offering discounts aimed at high school students. Vibrant Coffee also capitalizes on the high school market by offering a discount of $2 off when a school ID is shown.
Even when applying these discounts, drinks come out from $3 to $5, which adds up to over $100 in just one month. “I see students walk around with energy drinks everyday! Vibrant and Atomic have a lot of student deals, so most of my classmates grab one before school,” expressed senior Ameya Taralkar.
While caffeinated energy drinks can be an effective way to gain a short-term energy boost, it is crucial to consume them in moderation. Daily consumption can not only strain someone’s mental health but also their financial costs.
Spending 100 dollars a month may seem insignificant, but it can add up to $1200 annually. Finding a balance between enjoying these beverages, managing the costs and maintaining good mental health is fundamentally a more sustainable approach.
