Energy Drinks & School Life

By: Rachel Bui

Many pre-adolescents and adolescents spend their early mornings and days carrying around energy drinks, but these popular beverages can carry hidden risks that can affect both their health and academic life.

High Caffeine Content

Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of caffeine, added sugars, and legal stimulants like guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine (Green & Hernandez, 2024). These substances can increase alertness and energy, but also raise heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing, which can be risky for adolescents (Buzz on Energy Drinks, 2024).

Adolescent Consumption

Research shows that 30%–50% of adolescents drink energy drinks (Buzz on Energy Drinks, 2024). Students often consume these beverages to boost energy for school, homework, or sports, but their developing brains make them more vulnerable to caffeine’s negative effects (Green & Hernandez, 2024).

Caffeine Safety Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents avoid energy drinks completely. Children aged 12–18 should not consume more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, far less than the caffeine in most energy drinks (Green & Hernandez, 2024).

Potential Health Risks

Energy drinks can cause dehydration, anxiety, insomnia, abnormal heart rhythms, and even seizures (Green & Hernandez, 2024). In 2011, 1,499 adolescents aged 12–17 visited the emergency room for energy-drink–related issues (Buzz on Energy Drinks, 2024).

In conclusion, while energy drinks may seem like a quick solution for staying awake or focused in school, their high caffeine and stimulant content can have serious short-term and long-term effects on adolescents’ health, including heart problems, anxiety, and sleep disturbances (Green & Hernandez, 2024). Experts recommend avoiding energy drinks entirely and choosing safer alternatives to maintain energy and focus without risking health (Healthy Eating for Kids, 2024). Making these healthier choices helps students perform better academically and supports overall well-being.