Junior Abby Myers checks into the attendance office. It’s far past 8 a.m., but she sacrificed her first two periods to catch up on much needed sleep. Those extra hours aren’t enough to make up for weeks of sleep deprivation. Energy drinks keep her going throughout her busy school day and track practice that follows after—not to mention a load of assignments and SAT prep that awaits her when she finally gets home.
Unfortunately, Myers’ habits are not exclusive to her. Many high school students face the same problem every day; finding a way to supplement a lack of sleep. According to the National Library of Medicine, trends of caffeine consumption as seen in teenagers have moved away from sodas towards other, more potent substances. What switch are teenagers making from sodas? Energy drinks.
“I would say I drink about nine or ten a week,” Myers said. “I have once every morning and then I’ll sometimes have another [energy drink] before going to the gym.”
This growing trend of dependence on caffeine reflects both in and out of school. According to ChartWells, the school’s food provider, almost 20% of daily school lunches are bought alongside a caffeinated drink. Drinks such as Bubblr’s, Mtn. Dew Kickstart, and Gatorade Fast Twitch all contribute to a high school student’s rising daily caffeine intake.
Munster’s Chartwells Dietitian, Erin Gainer, ensures the compliance of the school’s food sales with the National School Lunch Program guidelines, as well as educating on proper nutrition for schooling systems.
With bright labeling and eye-grabbing graphics, Gainer attributes the rise of caffeine consumption among adolescents to the marketing strategies executed by energy drink companies.
“Marketing’s increased the rate of purchasing caffeine,” Gainer said. “The bright colored cans are appealing to the consumer eye. You may also see many social media influencers collaborating with energy drink companies, making it even more appealing to their followers—some of whom may have never even had an energy drink before.”
The cafeteria isn’t the only place that offers these colorfully decorated cans. Stores like Target and Walgreens contribute to deploying these campaigns.
“I would still drink them even if they didn’t have caffeine,” junior Gia Iatrides said. “They’re cute and fun to carry around.”
Energy drinks land their turf beyond the cafeteria and grocery stores, marking their presence among student athletes who wish for an additional zap of energy before practice or after a lift.
“I don’t have the ability to say what can or can’t be in the Power Locker. We will always be supplied with some sort of caffeinated drink,” srength coach and advanced PE teacher Riley Edgerton said. “I see it as ‘how can I educate our student athletes and our student body about caffeine in a drink?’”
As a coach channeled into the physical health of his players, Edgerton looks beyond the potential performative enhancements of energy drinks and rather the wellbeing of students.
“The NCAA shows that there are positives to taking these small amounts of caffeine, but I don’t think kids understand the full aspect or the impact that caffeine does to your body,” he said.
