Energy drinks are a staple in the BHS student life. Whether it’s to wake up in the morning, for a midday treat, or even to get ready for a night out with friends, energy drinks are a go-to for many students. But what kinds of energy drinks are Berkley students drinking? There are many popular drinks, like Monster Energy’s “White Ultra” or Redbull’s new “Winter Edition”. These flavors fly off the nearby gas station’s shelves after lunch because of how many students buy them. While energy drinks become essential to students around the world, widespread caffeine dependency among teenagers raises many serious health concerns that demand immediate attention.
I took a survey of 53 high school students of varying grades chosen randomly, and Redbull was voted the most popular brand for energy drinks. They’re known for their cheap prices, skinny cans, and their wide variety of flavors. Redbull’s flavors vary from strawberry apricot to grapefruit blossom. Senior Wyatt Carlson drinks Redbull in the morning and at lunch to stay focused throughout the day. “I like Redbull because it has higher quality ingredients,” said Carlson, “and pear cinnamon is the best one because it was made so well, but they don’t sell it anymore.” He says that Redbull is his favorite drink and it helps him focus. “It gives me the boost I need to make it through the day and get my assignment in,” said Carlson. Redbull uses higher quality ingredients, including what kinds of caffeine, B-group vitamins, sugars, and taurine they use.
Alongside Redbull’s popularity, there is another energy drink brand that is a student favorite: Monster Energy. “White Ultra” is the choice of many students. Monster Energy has larger cans than other popular drinks. Their energy drinks are available almost anywhere. Other flavors such as “Ultra Blue Hawaiian” and “Ultra Peachy Keen” are also top picks among Berkley students. Senior Isaac Lathwell said, “[Monster Energy] has always been a drink that I fall back on, and I find it better than coffee in the majority of situations.” Lathwell likes to drink an energy drink before school or after work when he’s most tired. “I tend to have a little more energy during the day if I have them in the morning. After work, they help me push a little further to finish up my homework for the day,” said Lathwell.
Besides Monster and Redbull, many other energy drinks are bought by students. Alani, Celsius, Bloom, and C4 are all very popular options. Students have access to all of these choices at a variety of places. Many students buy their energy drinks from gas stations. Others get theirs from drugstores, 7/11’s, and local grocery stores. “I buy energy drinks from the gas station by the school because I’m always tired in the morning and it really helps,” said Graddie Hall, a sophomore at Berkley High School. After an intense practice or game, the gas station is a go-to spot for Hall because of its proximity to the high school and low prices.
Many students don’t realise that caffeine is a drug, or that it is highly addictive. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most caffeine an adult could consume is around 400 milligrams per day. However, the FDA has insufficient evidence about the limits of teens. Other experts, such as Diane Mitchell, Carol Knight, Jon Hockenberry, et al., estimate that teens should only be drinking around 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, exactly ⅔ of what a “White Ultra” flavored Monster contains.
Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system, causing better concentration, faster metabolism, and an overall better mood. However, your brain can build up a tolerance for caffeine if you drink it daily. This means you need to drink more and more caffeine to receive the same benefits. According to the European Food Safety Authority in 2024, around 68% of adolescents globally have reported drinking an energy drink at least once before. In the U.S., about 30% of teens and young adults regularly drink energy drinks. Students often turn to energy drinks to help them relieve the stress of busy schedules, keep them focused, and to cope with extreme sleep deprivation. Caffeine addiction is very damaging to young people. Similar to other substances, quitting caffeine after depending on it can cause withdrawals, including headache, nausea, and fatigue. Alongside the effects of withdrawal, there is some evidence that regular high caffeine intake can stunt brain development. Researcher Reto Huber found that caffeine consumption delays cortical maturation during a critical developmental period by interfering with Slow Wave Activity during sleep. It is difficult to quit, especially for teens who are the target audience for these drinks. Although you don’t need to fully cut caffeine out of your diet, you should know how much you are consuming and work to cut back.
