College Kids and Caffeine Consumption
We’ve all been culprits of procrastination. Late night study groups in the FAC, all-nighters in the PCL, and finishing p-sets until 3:00 AM in our dorms. For most students, getting through this grueling requires one non-negotiable substance: caffeine.
Although it is estimated that more than 80% of the world consumes some form of caffeine, the percentage of college student consumers tend to be higher than in other groups. In 2019, it was estimated that 92% of college students consumed some sort of caffeine. One study found that in one month, 51% of college students reported consuming at least one energy drink per month while 69% of students had some sort of coffee/espresso beverage. The booming energy drink market (as well as the Gen Z/millennial targeted ad campaigns that have come with it) might lead to a steady increase of these already astronomical numbers.
Many students feel that caffeinated drinks help them focus while studying or writing papers. The Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than 100g of caffeine for students between the age of 12-18, while it recommends no more than 400g of caffeine for adults over the age of 18. For context, one 12 oz can of CELSIUS (a popular energy drink of choice for many longhorns) contains 200 mg of caffeine, half of the recommended daily caffeine intake.
The majority of students associate their caffeine intake with positive effects such as increased alertness and increased physical energy. It helps students stay awake while they grind out their last-minute history paper in the PCL or work away at a Canvas post/reply. Caffeine is able to have this reaction on the human body by delaying the natural release of melatonin (the sleep-inducing hormone), allowing us to power through and remain alert during the wee hours of the morning.
However, many neglect to focus on or even acknowledge the negative effects that come with regularly consuming high amounts of caffeine. Even if one drinks less than the recommended 400 mg per day, according to the American Psychological Association, caffeine can still trigger negative effects such as headaches, insomnia, restlessness, and rapid heartbeats. In the long term, the effects of caffeine can even worsen existing health issues significantly.
Even worse, many are unaware of caffeine’s “addicting factor”, unknowingly becoming more and more reliant on coffee and energy drinks just to make it through the day. Those who regularly consume caffeine may find themselves having withdrawal symptoms (i.e. headaches, dizziness, anxiety) once they decide to decrease or stop drinking coffee/energy drinks for good.
Recently, there has been an increased amount of research into the correlation between energy drinks and academic performance. A study conducted in 2016 found that increased energy drink consumption was associated with lower academic achievement. Another study found that those who frequently drink energy drinks reported more at-risk behavior than their peers (increased drug and alcohol use). Overall, there seems to be a negative academic trend in students who consume large quantities of caffeine in their daily lives.
Although it may seem like everyone knows is pulling back-to-back all-nighters while downing Bang energy drinks, you should take a second to think about the long-term implications of caffeine consumption in your everyday life.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27236788/