Walking past the classrooms at eight in the morning, before heading into first period, you can hear the snaps of the many students cracking open fresh energy drinks in their hands. Whether it is a Celsius, Red Bull, or a neon can of Monster, for many high schoolers, it is less about the taste and more about trying to stay awake to keep up with their busy schedules packed with homework, sports, band practices, and late nights.
However, unlike what has been advertised in the media, these drinks are not exactly harmless, as they are becoming a growing addiction, with many questions online about how much caffeine is too much for teenagers. Most students do not think about how much caffeine is actually excessive, but doctors recommend that people our age only have about 100 milligrams a day (a small coffee). Unfortunately, a majority of energy drinks have double, or even triple, that amount in just one can. A student at Yorba Linda High School, Kaitlyn Joe (11) replies, “I drink energy drinks frequently to wake myself up from late-night studies and early morning practices.”
Too much caffeine doesn’t just make you “hyper”, but it can cause many serious health issues like headaches, trouble sleeping, and even dehydration. Many studies all over the internet show how energy drinks can raise your heart rate and blood pressure, which is especially risky for teenagers whose bodies are still maturing. And caffeine isn’t the only problem. Most energy drinks are packed with sugar or artificial sweeteners, which can increase the risk of cavities, obesity, and even type 2 diabetes if consumed regularly. This combination of high caffeine and sugar can leave people feeling jittery at first, but then crashing hard later in the day. Over time, constantly overloading on energy drinks can also make people dependent on them, making the consumer feel even more tired and cranky than before the sip.
Some doctors have also published that energy drinks are sending more teenagers to emergency rooms because of heart problems from caffeine overdose, which as in some cases, can cause irregular heartbeats and fainting. While that might sound extreme, it shows that energy drinks are not as harmless as grabbing a can of soda.
Some students say they drink them every once in a while, but for others, it has become a habit. Addison Kopizcko (11) admits, “I first started drinking Celsius because I couldn’t stay awake in class after late-night practices, but now I have one almost every day.”
It is not just about the caffeine; many companies are skilled at making these drinks look “cool,” especially on social media, trying to promote and advertise their products. Because energy drinks are highly publicized on people’s for you pages, teenagers follow the trends, which is why, at school, you can see a can in someone’s hand everywhere you look. Colorful packaging, candy-like flavors, and sponsorships of sports or events make these drinks especially appealing to teens. Peer pressure also plays a huge role in the consumption of energy drinks, as celebrities and influencers often promote them without fully being aware of the health risks.
Instead of energy drinks, there are many safer options when feeling dehydrated or craving an energy boost. Drinking plain water, coconut water, or diluted 100% fruit juices helps with hydration, while matcha, smoothies, or milk can give energy without the unnecessary overload of sugar and caffeine. Eating balanced meals and actually getting enough sleep are the most effective energy sources, even if they don’t come in a bright, attractive plastic can.
Sure, energy drinks might help you push through a late-night study session or after-school practice, but depending on them every single day is not the healthiest choice. Ultimately, the real issue is that students are trying to make excuses to sleep less, but no amount of caffeine will actually fix the problem at hand. Until this changes, it seems like the energy drinks in the morning are not going away anytime soon. Energy drinks are a quick remedy for high schoolers, but at what cost?
