Energy drinks are very popular at OHS, and it is not uncommon to see students walking around campus with a Celsius or Kickstart, and many students have an energy drink everyday, which is a bad habit.
According to the NCCIH(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health), about one third of teenagers ages 12-17 consume energy drinks regularly. Research shows that people under the age of 17 should have no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine. Celsius’ have around 200 milligrams per can.
“Caffeine is my main source of energy; I drink at least one [energy drink] everyday,” said Ryan Dietrich, sophomore.
Students who consume more than the recommended amount of caffeine per day may experience anxiety, increased blood pressure, and disturbed sleep. OHS continues to sell energy drinks despite the fact that they are a detriment to students’ overall health.
“I drink some [caffeine] in the morning, just to get me going,” said Baker Stockman, freshman.
Energy drinks are often marketed toward teenagers, with drinks like Red Bull sponsoring many sports events. This kind of advertising has made the Red Bull brand iconic. Monster Energy, another brand, has sponsors in motorsports, BMX, gaming, music, and MMA. Advertising from energy drink companies are almost everywhere, making these brands household names.
“I drink Redbull, Kickstart, and Monster,” said Nicholas Hebenstreit, sophomore.
This becomes an issue as many people do not take into account just how much caffeine one of these drinks contains. People tend to just drink them because they taste good or recognize the brand.
“I drink 200-300 milligrams a day. It doesn’t increase my productivity; I just like the flavors,” Hebenstreit said.
The reason many students consume energy drinks is because they are tired and need a boost to stay awake and attentive. While caffeine is one way to stay awake longer, there are other, healthier alternatives than energy drinks. Things like sweet tea or smoothies can offer a boost of energy through natural sugars, which are much healthier than energy drinks.
“I think my work would suffer if I didn’t have some caffeine most days,” Stockman said.
However, for some students it is not about the caffeine or the advertising; it is the flavors. Energy drinks can consist of many different varieties and tastes. Monster Energy has 40 different flavors, each appealing to various tastes, and the abundance of flavors provides an option for everyone.
“I like the variety of flavors, it makes it easier to drink more,” Dietrich said.
The variety of flavors makes energy drinks that much more appealing to consumers, especially teenagers. The bright colors and eye-catching packaging also appeal to a younger demographic, who might not notice that their drink contains caffeine before having it.
“I drink them because they [energy drinks] taste good, no other reason.” Hebenstreit said.
In general, caffeine and energy drinks are detrimental to teenagers’ health, raising anxiety and blood pressure levels while also causing irregular sleep patterns. According to the CDC, seven out of every 10 students do not get enough sleep, and adding caffeine to the mix can make it even harder for them to obtain the eight hours of recommended sleep every night.
“It ruins my sleep schedule. I sleep about six hours a night, but [at least] the drinks taste good,” Dietrich said.
Energy drinks have been normalized at OHS, and with teenagers in general, making it a much deeper rooted issue.
“I think energy drinks can be good, but not at school,” Stockman said.
