Most people instantly think about energy drinks as a direct road to heart problems and caffeine addiction. They have too much caffeine and sugar in them, so they are bad for the body. It is a common thought on energy drinks and what they do. But then there are some people who look at the benefits of energy drinks. When you’re tired, they boost your energy levels, which hints at the name ‘energy drink’. If you’re completely out of it in class, a little boost will help you concentrate better. If a child or adult has low blood pressure, an energy drink can boost those rates, etc. These are the main arguments made by energy drink companies across the globe. So here’s the question. Are energy drinks safe for students?
Energy drinks across the market like to use the argument that too much caffeine in a day can be a problem, but if you don’t consume too much, you’ll be just fine. This argument is scientifically proven. A healthy adult can safely consume 400 mgs (milligrams) of caffeine in a day, while a child 10 and older is around 100 mgs and a child 9 and younger is 50 mgs. If a person drinks more than the safely recommended amount, then they could run into some problems if they continuously consume that amount daily. Some side effects of too much caffeine can be restlessness, fast heart rate, dehydration, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, etc. So, if you are a person that regularly consumes caffeine, and you have these problems, it is strongly recommended to slow down.
Sophomore, Raegan Vannoy, talks about her caffeine intake and how it makes her feel. “I have 69 mgs of caffeine a day, whatever is in my Bubbl’r, but it really doesn’t make me feel anything because of how used to I am that it”.
So, with the concern about people consuming too much caffeine, this question arises about, is it safe for schools to provide energy drinks for students to purchase?
Junior, Finn Wilson, explains his opinion on energy drinks being provided in schools. “I feel like it’s a great idea because it helps me do my work and, like everyone in the school, has an energy drink every day, so they might as well provide them.”
At PCM High School, Bubbl’r brand beverages are provided in the vending machines. Bubbl’r is one of the least caffeinated and highest populated energy drinks on the market today. One can of Bubbl’r only has 69 mgs of caffeine on top of only having 5 calories, 0 gs (grams) of sugar, 8 gs of carbohydrates, and 25 mgs of sodium. Bubbl’r is also one of the healthiest and most flavorful energy drinks around, which is why, on top of students absolutely loving them, they are provided at PCM High School.
This argument about energy drinks can go two different ways. Some say they are bad for you, but others say if you don’t drink too many of them, then they won’t affect your overall health. Both opinions have been scientifically proven, so with that being said, what do you think, are energy drinks safe for students?
