Caffeine Culture in College Written by: Anna Roberson Graphic by: Emily Snisarenko Design by: Shelby Mitchell Caffeine consumption is alive and well among college students. If you’ve entered any of the Starbucks on campus, you would know. The pick-up lines are overflowing with green and white bags and plastic drink lids. Additionally, if you look closely, you’ll find “mobile order” stickers littering the sidewalks of Commonwealth Avenue. It’s no surprise that college students enjoy caffeine. We have late nights and busy schedules that require increased energy and concentration. But could our caffeine habits be hurting us more than helping? It depends on what we’re drinking. Maxine Garbacz, a sophomore in the Questrom school of Business, said she has, on average, two coffees a day. Her go-to order is a grande latte with caramel syrup and oat milk. A grande latte has two shots of espresso in it, bringing her daily total to four shots, or 280 mg of caffeine. A lot of athletes take pre-workout caffeine for a boost of energy and focus. According to Cleveland Clinic, most brands range from 150 to 300 mg per serving, equivalent to three cups of coffee. And oftentimes, people are taking the pre-workout in the afternoon after their morning coffee. Energy drinks like Monster, Celsius, Redbull, and Bang can be found in BU’s vending machines and convenience stores. These brands range from 80 to 300 mg per serving, making up most of the average adult’s daily caffeine intake in just one can. The dangers of caffeine have a lot to do with the individual’s reason for consuming it. Most college students are drinking coffee or tea because they like the taste, it’s part of their routine, and/or they want a boost of energy in the morning. Energy drinks and pre-workout powders are used more so for getting a rush of alertness and energy for a specific purpose. This purpose could be a long day of studying, a workout, a sports game, a performance, etc. College students also consume caffeine with alcohol for pregaming parties, sports games, concerts, or nights out. For example, espresso martinis and vodka red bulls. Burnt out college students may think they need to “wake up” for a fun night out, but caffeine can mask the effects of alcohol leading to increased risk of injury, blacking out, drinking, and driving, etc.
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Yes, caffeine helps us. Knowing I will have a coffee with breakfast helps get me out of bed and out the door to my morning lectures. For the average healthy adult, 400 mg is the limit of daily caffeine according to Mayo Clinic. While most students fall safely under that limit, it’s important to be aware of the potential negative effects of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant drug. Other types of stimulant drugs include nicotine, cocaine, crystal meth, and other dangerous substances. “There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk,” says the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Just like illegal, dangerous drugs, people’s bodies react differently to caffeine depending on their age, size, weight, and tolerance. It’s even possible to overdose on caffeine. Overdose symptoms include tremors,
