To get through the seven-hour school day, some Newton High School students drink caffeinated beverages every day. There is a variety of options that students can choose from to intake caffeine, the most popular ones being coffee, Monster and Red Bull. Vending machines around the school supply Monster and Celsius which are both energy drinks that contain above 100 milligrams of caffeine.
A survey of 160 students concluded that 36% of the student body drinks caffeinated drinks every day and 24% said that they were addicted to caffeine. According to Andi Atkinson, a physician at UT Health, teens under the age of 17 should not consume more than 100 milligrams a day because they do not have a tolerance for a high amount of caffeine. Some students complain that without caffeine they have symptoms of headaches and drowsiness.
“I depend on caffeine every day. I always drink it in the morning, but if I know I have plans later that night and I’m going to be out for a while I will get a little pick-me-up at 5 or 6 p.m. I can’t function without caffeine, I will be sleepy or have a headache without it,” junior Adah Hodge said.
Over 50% of the students believed that caffeine is bad for their health. Hodge knows that there are scientific studies to prove that a large caffeine intake is harmful and her parents think she does not need caffeine, but she drinks it anyway.
“I don’t think in small quantities caffeine is bad for you. I’ve read some things about how it became normal to drink coffee because it increased people’s productivity,” NHS teacher Erica Rickard said. “So to a degree, I think that some amount of caffeine is okay, but it definitely builds up in our bodies and over time is probably not the best thing for us.”
Rickard said that she not only drinks coffee, but she also enjoys other caffeinated drinks such as Diet Dr. Pepper. Like Hodge, Rickard views coffee as a sort of “pick-me-up” and does not necessarily drink it for the taste.
“I love some things that have caffeine in them. I think I like those things, not the caffeine so much. I’m not one that feels like if I don’t have caffeine in the morning I’m sluggish,” Rickard said. “I like the taste of coffee that’s why I drink it in the morning not because I just can’t get through my day without it.”
Junior Bella Vogt said that she depends on caffeine a lot, although she can still function without it. Vogt said she will notice a difference in her ability to stay engaged in classes if she goes without caffeine in the morning.
“At first my parents hated [me drinking caffeine]. They would only want me to drink a Monster once a month and now they don’t care as much. They know that I drink caffeine a lot,” Vogt said.
