Energy Drinks & College students

College students are consuming and relying on energy drinks more and more.

NEWS

Many students drink these infused refreshments with little to no knowledge of the ingredients. Some students are more aware than others and many hold different opinions of energy drinks.

Katie Kellogg, a freshman civil engineering major, spoke about her opinion of energy drinks. “Drink what you want as long as it makes you feel good and everyone has different caffeine tolerances so do what’s best for you,” Kellogg said.

CONTEXT

Many people oppose energy drinks due to the belief that the high levels of caffeine cause heart problems, anxiety, sleep problems and dehydration. A viewpoint in support of energy drinks is the belief that the drinks can reduce mental fatigue and improve memory, concentration and reaction time.

Maggie Piccin, a freshman nutritional sciences major, can see both sides of the energy drink argument. “I think they are great but some contain way too much caffeine and can be dangerous,” Piccin said.

The main argument against energy drinks is the danger of heart issues. Erin Heger wrote an article for Insider that discussed the impact of energy drinks. According to Heger, in 2011 there were over 20,000 emergency room visits associated with energy drinks.

Heger goes on to say that energy drinks have excessive amounts of sugar that in extreme cases can lead to cancer, diabetes and or obesity.

Energy drinks are especially risky for adolescents due to their bodies and minds not being fully developed. However, energy drink companies' target audience is teens and college students.

U.S. News & World Report has multiple articles about energy drinks and how they can affect adolescents. “The concerns about the drinks, which have been linked to heart and neurological problems along with poor mental health and substance use among teens, are rampant,” according to the U.S. News & World Report.

SCOPE

An argument that is often made by energy drink supporters is that energy drinks improve brain function.

Eyuel Abame, a freshman civil engineering major, explained how energy drinks benefit him. “I notice I am much more productive and overall a better person even after a little caffeine because it alerts my brain that the day is starting,” Abame said.

Keith Pearson wrote an article for Healthline that pointed out the benefits of energy drinks. “One study, in particular, showed that drinking just one 8.4-ounce (500-milliliter) can of Red Bull increased both concentration and memory by about 24%,” Pearson said. That statistic is especially appealing to college students needing to study and succeed in classes.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has provided much information about energy drinks' popularity among college students. “Next to multivitamins, energy drinks are the most popular dietary supplement consumed by American teens and young adults,” according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Pearson goes on to explain in the Healthline article that the recommended caffeine consumption is 400 milligrams a day and that most energy drinks are only about 80 milligrams. One cup of coffee has approximately 80 milligrams of caffeine.

EDGE

Brayden Stewart, a junior animal science major, spoke about the impact energy drinks have had on his life. “I feel like I have become slightly addicted because if I try to go a day without drinking one I find it difficult to function,” Stewart said.

One energy drink will not cause significant damage but excessive or regular consumption can be detrimental to one's health. “Although occasionally drinking one energy drink is unlikely to cause any harm, it is probably wise to avoid consuming energy drinks as a part of your daily routine,” Pearson said.

IMPACT

Sources

Katie Kellogg freshman civil engineering major. Contact: katie.kellogg@okstate.edu

Maggie Piccin freshman nutritional sciences major. Contact: maggie.piccin@okstate.edu

Eyuel Abame freshman civil engineering major. Contact: eabame@okstate.edu

Brayden Stewart junior animal science major. Contact: brayden.stewart@okstate.edu

Heger, Erin, and Samantha Cassetty. “4 Reasons Why Energy Drinks Are Bad for You - and Healthier Ways To Boost Your Energy.” Insider, Insider, 13 Jan. 2021, date accessed 18 April 2022, https://www.insider.com/are-energy-drinks-bad-for-you.

How Healthy Are Energy Drinks? | U.S. News. 9 Dec. 2021, date accessed 18 April 2022, https://health.usnews.com/wellness/fitness/energy-drinks.

Pearson, Keith. “Are Energy Drinks Good or Bad for You?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 13 April 2017, date accessed 18 April 2022, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/energy-drinks#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2.

“Energy Drinks.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 18 July 2021, date accessed 18 April 2022, https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/energy-drinks.