By Aidan McNeely
The blaring alarm drags you from a restless sleep, but wait, today is exam day, and the heavy exhaustion weighs in after staying up late studying. You need something to wake you up. Coffee from the local shop sounds comforting, but the gas station’s energy drink is quicker. You start your car, mind foggy, and debate which option will get you through the day.
Many people rely on caffeine to wake up in the morning, noon, or afternoon. Despite the negative opinions some may have about them, energy drinks are a popular choice. Common options include Ghost Sour Patch Redberry, Reign Cherry Limeade, or the classic Monster Energy Zero Ultra White. It really comes down to personal preference. While some students prefer coffee, others choose energy drinks.
According to a 2016 study done by Caitlin K Kelly, and J Roxanne Prichard on the demographics, health, and risk behaviors of young adults who consume energy drinks and coffee beverages; 36% reported having energy drinks, 69% reported having a coffee beverage, and 86% reported consuming caffeine in general. Young adults in this case were students from a “midsize private university.”
Interestingly enough, the exact same study found that students with sleep issues, mental health problems, and drug/alcohol use (risk behaviors) were far more likely to be regular energy drink consumers and not a regular coffee drinkers.
In addition, an analysis of 71 articles published between 2007 and 2021 on energy drink consumption patterns in university students found that the main reasons for consumption were staying alert, studying, and physical activity. Typical side effects included sleep disturbances, increased heart rate or blood pressure, and it was commonly associated with alcohol use and smoking.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that drinking energy drinks will automatically lead to addiction or other behavioral risks. Everything should be consumed in moderation and when necessary. That said, the statistics are telling, particularly when you look at the demographics. However, it’s worth noting that there is far more research on coffee consumption, simply because it has been around much longer than energy drinks.
In a 2019 study on the intake of caffeine among college students, researchers classified “intake” as coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, gums, and medications. The study concluded that 92% of students in that year consumed some form of caffeine, but coffee consumption was the main form among males and females. Their reasons included helping them stay awake, enjoying the taste, social confidence, improving focus, increasing energy, boosting mood, and reducing stress.
(Photo by Aidan McNeely: A steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee sits atop a glass pastry case in the soft ambient glow and stillness of an empty Starbucks café.)
The occasional energy drink or coffee isn’t a problem especially when absolutely needed. The main reason most people even have a single thought about consuming one or the other is about the taste or more importantly, the caffeine.
According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, “caffeine is a stimulant drug, which means it speeds up the messages travelling between the brain and the body.” A stimulant is considered to be a drug because it affects your central nervous system and speeds up all of your body’s metabolic functions.
Therefore, caffeine may not be an issue for most people, but some develop an addiction to it and abuse it. When used in moderation it has positive effects, but this addition can slowly develop caffeine’s negative side effects.
According to the Addiction Center, “If someone drinks caffeine on a daily basis, they will develop a tolerance just as they would to other drugs or alcohol. After a while, the user requires more and more caffeine to produce the same effects of alertness.” They also add that, “the American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not currently identify caffeine addiction as a substance use disorder (SUD); however, it does recognize caffeine withdrawal as a clinical condition.”
Withdrawal from any type of addictive substance is rough and can be physically and mentally taxing especially if you’re trying to quit.
In a 2021 study on caffeine intake and the mental health of college students, the main source of caffeine they found most college students indulged in were coffee and also those who consumed greater amounts of caffeine had “depressive” symptoms and “higher levels of anxiety.” This could be from the side effects of the day to day withdrawal and the crash in between the times of consuming caffeine and without caffeine.
Despite all the information, caffeine consumption is likely to continue, as some days are longer than others. The source of caffeine is energy drinks, as the taste of coffee isn’t preferred. Any college student needing to wake up should also consider this, but only in moderation.
Caffeine has great positives and benefits including boosting the amount of dopamine that our bodies produce or otherwise known as the “happy” chemical. Much like anything else when taken too much of or abused, people can develop depression and high anxiety levels.
In the end, the choice between coffee and energy drinks boils down to personal preference and moderation. Both can help us power through the day, but overindulgence brings a fine line between boosting productivity and triggering negative side effects. So, the next time you reach for that caffeine fix, just remember, it’s all about finding the right balance for you, because your body, much like your caffeine intake, deserves a little consideration.