When you walk into South in the morning, there is a high chance you’ll spot a brightly colored can in many students’ hands. Energy drinks have become increasingly popular amongst high school students in the past few years. 

While energy drinks do provide short term satisfaction, they can be harmful to one’s overall health. These drinks contain excessive amounts of caffeine, sugar, and additives. Consuming these beverages regularly raises health risks such as insomnia, anxiety, irregular heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and dehydration. 

The stressors of high school, late night studying, tiresome practices, and extracurricular activities, leave students feeling the necessity to consume energy drinks. 

“I have an energy drink about once a day or every day, pretty frequently throughout the week,” said junior Christina Romero. “I don’t get enough sleep at night, because I do a lot of homework and study for my classes. I feel like in the morning I need a pick-me-up to get my day started or else I’m going to be dozing off in class.” 

The average energy drink contains anywhere between 100 to 300 milligrams of caffeine, and it is recommended for teenagers to consume no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day. However, for many, this is not a deterrent.

“I drink them because I have so much work to do so I can’t really sleep at night,” said junior Adrianna Ibarra. “I struggle getting through the day without energy.”

Regularly consuming energy drinks leads to a dependence on caffeine, as it makes it harder for people to function without it. However, instead of relying on caffeine to function and keep up with routines, students could try and develop healthier habits. Forming sleep schedules, hydrating, and planning ahead can all play a role in reducing the need for excessive caffeine. 

Since energy drinks are now a typical and normalized part of the school day, their potential impact on the student body is worth noting.