On Jan 30 at McKinley High School, a survey conducted by The Pinion that got data with over 193 respondents, both students and staff, revealed the interesting statistics about caffeine consumption among teens. 49.2% of the respondents say they drink caffeine, while 50.8% say they do not. 78% of the students said they do not feel addicted to caffeine, while 22% admitted they are.
In today’s busy life, many people depend on caffeine to get through the day, as it helps them concentrate. Ariana Ash (c/o 2025), shared her experience with caffeine, especially her choice of Reign Total Body Fuel in the morning. She said she’s haunted by her insomnia, but finds peace in the embrace of caffeine as it helps her concentrate.
Amara Brylle Auro (c/o 2026) said, “I think it’s beneficial, especially for people with a lot of activities. I feel more motivated doing things.” Auro also advised to drink caffeine in moderation, “I think combinations of different types of caffeinated drinks, like drinking coffee in the morning and then an energy drink after school is too much.” She also agreed that caffeine has as many disadvantages as benefits.
Yuuka Yamagishi (c/o 2025) and Ash find the concentration effect from caffeine is helpful.
Ash said, “I can focus better in school,” while Auro supported this by saying, “It makes me feel more energized when I do physical activities after school.”
However, there is also a downside of caffeine. Ash talked about the negative effects from drinking caffeine, like her getting a heart condition where her heart has an unnatural or irregular rhythm.
“I have developed heart arrhythmia and I have withdrawals after three days off of caffeine,” Ash said. She believes that caffeine is helpful, but too much of it can be harmful.
Knowing how much caffeine is okay to consume is very important. Ash believes that drinking more than one energy drink is too much, as according to the USDA, one can of energy drink usually contains 80mg of caffeine. While she mentioned that her limit is about nine-hundred milligrams, also according to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the maximum amount should be 400 milligrams. Auro also stressed the importance of awareness, saying, “There are a bunch of health-related side effects like headaches and rapid heart rates.” and according to UCDavis, this is true.
Ash said, “I feel like all things are a double-edged sword because too much of anything is bad for you.” And Yamagishi agreed with Ash’s view that caffeine can both be good and bad. She believes that caffeine, if used wisely, empowers, but can also cause problems if misused.
When asked about safer ways to get the benefits of caffeine without its risks, MHS students suggested making healthier lifestyle choices like getting more sleep and eating regularly. Yamagishi suggested talking to students who either always consume caffeine or never ingest it to get a better understanding of the topic. Auro then advised moderation once more.
I love caffeine. I love the Starbucks coffee you can buy from 7-Eleven to drink every day. It’s nice to know that students agree with my view about how caffeine is a tool that can be beneficial if you want it to be. But I believe developing a dependence on it is when you should start to limit your intake.
Overall, caffeine can help with focus and energy, but it’s important to be aware of the risks. As all three students pointed out, caffeine is a double-edged sword; it’s essential to use caffeine wisely and understand how it affects health. Finding a balance between benefits and the risks can help create a healthier relationship with this well-loved elixir of energy.
