Many students rely on caffeine to get through their day. From a morning Celsius, which is a high-energy drink, to an after-school iced coffee, caffeine has quietly become part of a student’s routine. In a recent Portfolio poll, we asked students if they drink caffeine, and out of 90 students, 72 said they do, and they like it.
Seventh-grade communications major Vishnu Shrivaths said, “I like iced coffee with a shot of espresso. It really keeps me energized throughout the day, and that’s what keeps me going.”
No one can deny that caffeine can give students a temporary boost in energy, which may help them focus on homework, projects, or after-school activities. This boost makes a big difference on long or busy days when they have multiple classes, homework, and activities to juggle. But, even though caffeine helps many students stay awake during class, new studies show that it has negative effects.
A study done by the National Library of Medicine shows that daily caffeine use of over 100 mg was negatively associated with self-control and problem behavior.
Family influence often plays a role in how students start drinking caffeine. Some try coffee or tea because parents offer it, while others experiment after seeing friends or siblings drink it. Starting young with caffeine can help students learn to enjoy it responsibly while understanding its effects.
Shrivaths explained how his parents got him into drinking iced coffee. “My Parents introduced me to it and now I drink it often.”
Enjoying caffeine isn’t just about energy, it’s also about taste. Drinks like iced coffee, soda, or tea are popular because they combine flavor with a needed energy boost.
Wellington High School student Kaeden Collins said, “Celcius is very refreshing in the morning. The tangyness of the orange helps me wake up more than just coffee.”
Many students say that a drink they enjoy makes early mornings and long school days more manageable. Shrivaths said that iced coffee keeps him energised and very alert. “It really gets me ready for the day.”
Caffeine can be helpful, but higher amounts may cause jitters, headaches, or trouble sleeping. Although some students use it responsibly, too much caffeine can cause serious side effects.
As drinks targeting kids and teens have soared, there’s new guidance on what’s healthy. According to new recommendations from a coalition of health and nutrition, kids and teens should mostly drink water and plain milk, and avoid those high energy drinks like Celsius and others that come with added sugar, artificial sweeteners and caffeine, so popular among teens. Some of the side effects include fast or irregular heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, rapid breathing, anxiety, and nausea.
Though they have been warned, students continue to drink high caffeine drinks. Collins said, “It helps me stay motivated to get ready in the morning because I always look forward to my morning Celcius.”
Warning: Celsius contains artificial sweeteners like sucralose and high acidity, which can also erode tooth enamel and cause gut health issues down the road. So, always be sure to drink at most 100 milligrams of caffeine and check the labels on anything that could have caffeine. With balance and moderation, caffeine becomes a helpful part of daily life rather than a problem later on in life.
