top of page
Search

Sips That Slip Into Addiction? The Rise In Energy Drinks And Caffeine Intake Amongst Youth

  • Writer: Misha Gupta
    Misha Gupta
  • Aug 19, 2025
  • 4 min read
-When we don’t realise the increase of dependency of stimulants in our day to day life.
-When we don’t realise the increase of dependency of stimulants in our day to day life.

Ever stayed up late studying for an exam, working, maybe gaming? A late night movie marathon perhaps? Or had to grab a coffee on the run for your early morning lectures, meetings etc? Well caffeine has proven to help provide instant energy for quite the amount of time, enough to get the work done. Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance, found in coffee, tea, sodas, and increasingly, energy drinks. In recent years an increasing number of different energy drinks have been introduced. Energy drinks are now consumed by 30%-50% of adolescents, with 31% of 12-19 year-olds reporting regular use. The amount of required consumption amongst teenagers and young adults are on the rise.



But before we dive in deeper, what actually is caffeine? Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant, meaning it increases the activity of your brain and nervous system. It is widely recognized as the most utilized psychoactive stimulant worldwide. Caffeine is found in many drinks such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks. Its primary action is to block the effects of a chemical called adenosine, which makes you feel sleepy. You then feel more alert and energetic. This is done by the caffeine binding to the adenosine receptors on the brain. Being both fat and water soluble, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds with all 4 adenosine receptor subtypes (A1, A2a, A2b, and A3). The antagonism of the A2a receptor is particularly responsible for caffeine's wakefulness effects. These receptors are not just limited to the central nervous system, but are also present throughout the body.


Youngsters nowadays are turning towards caffeine in the form of coffee, tea, energy drinks etc due to multiple reasons. Some reasons include -


● Seeking energy for staying up late at night due to work or school. This is due to sleep deprivation and the demanding schedules which require them to stay on top of their work in every aspect. There has also been another rise in the energy drinks consumption amongst teenagers at midnight, for overnight gaming.


● Social media influence and marketing. There is a widespread marketing of these energy drinks brands which are all over the social media and online shops. Nowadays, drinking coffee with peers can also seem like a social activity. These energy drink brands that promote their drinks through fancy packaging and marketing them through influencers, are causing youngsters to choose these energy drinks in whatever quantity they want at any grocery shop, as there is vast availability and no one to monitor if their purchases are over limit or not.


● Taste and coping mechanism. These brands manufacture energy drinks and coffee products in different flavours and by adding immense amounts of sugar, which makes them addictive. Some youngsters have even started using this as a method of coping mechanism to cope with stress, anxiety and mood swings.



Around 200mg of caffeine is considered as the healthy amount of intake.

Beverage (Typical Serving)

Caffeine Content (mg)

Red Bull (250ml)

80mg

Monster (473ml)

160mg

Bang Energy (473ml)

300mg

Black coffee (240ml)

95mg

The rise in the caffeine concentration in energy drinks is causing youngsters to get addicted to the artificial flavour, sugar and artificial food coloring.



So what does science say about addiction? Dependence is when the body adapts to regular caffeine intake, causing tolerance and withdrawal symptoms when intake stops. Addiction on the other hand, is a compulsive need despite negative consequences, often with changes in brain reward pathways.


Caffeine Dependence Criteria (based on DSM-5 proposals):

● Tolerance (needing more for same effect)

● Withdrawal (headache, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating)

● Continued use despite harm (e.g., anxiety, poor sleep)


When caffeine is taken in the required quantity, the short term effects can include - alertness, improved reaction time and mood elevation. But on the down side, too much caffeine intake can lead to:-

● Increased heart rate & blood pressure. Caffeine can cause a temporary spike in your heart beat. Which can lead to heart palpitations and irregular heart beat, even in the people who don't have any chronic heart illness.

● Calcium depletion. Caffeine can lead to calcium depletion which can affect the growth of bones. This can also lead to growth problems in teenagers.

● Anxiety and jitterness. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, to produce adrenaline. This causes anxiety and nervousness.

● Insomnia. Over consumption of caffeine can also disrupt the sleep cycle. And lack of sleep can lead to irritability and less productivity, causing the complete reverse effect.

● Stomach problems. Increases stomach acidity, which can lead to intestinal problems along with nausea and heartburn.

● Dehydration. Caffeine is slightly diuretic, meaning frequent urination.

● It can also affect the collagen in your skin and cause premature wrinkles.




Evidence shows that moderate caffeine can temporarily boost alertness and performance. Frequent high-dose energy drink consumption in young people often exceeds safe limits and can lead to dependence symptoms.


Whether this constitutes a harmful “addiction” depends on the individual’s pattern of use and ability to limit intake. Although on a side note, coffee is considered to be a better option than energy drinks. This is because coffee has fewer stimulants and is more natural compared to the artificial sweetening, excess sugar, artificial flavour and the excess amount of stimulants in energy drinks.


So the next time you want to stay awake late at night, remember to choose wisely and to sort out a better schedule for yourself so that you can have a healthy sleep cycle and stay productive. And to leave coffee for your coffee dates!


Reference links:


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page