By Maeve Rice
**Disclaimer: Information mentioned in this article is from research;, this is not medical advice. Please drink any levels of caffeine at your own risk and do your own research.
Caffeine at McNicholas High School seems to be a hot topic, from Alani’s to Starbucks cups. But do students really know the consequences of their drink decisions?
According to the National Library of Medicine, “The first energy drink appeared in the U.S. in 1949 and was marketed as ‘Dr. Enuf.’” Dr. Enuf was a lemon-lime flavored drink from Tennessee popular in the 1950’s. After this new product was released, energy drinks went global and the popular brand “Red Bull” was born in Austria in 1984. More popular brands of energy drinks followed and include Monster, Alani, and Celsius. Although these sugary drinks are good once in a while, they contain over 100mg of caffeine in each can, which is higher than a cup of coffee. Sophomore Will Remley said, “My favorite energy drink is Monster because it helps me get through the day.”
But energy drinks aren’t the only silent killer; coffee causes detrimental effects as well. With 95 mg of caffeine per cup, coffee should be limited to only one cup a day. Junior Payton Detzel said, “I drink coffee because I like the flavor.” According to the Mayo Clinic, unlike energy drinks, coffee is linked to lowering risks of some diseases including liver cancer, kidney stones, Parkinson’s disease, and type two diabetes. This is because coffee is a natural bean unlike energy drinks which are made from synthetic caffeine. But are students who drink coffee over energy drinks thinking about benefits? Sophomore Holland Steuer said, “I drink Alani’s because I do soccer, lacrosse, and school and need the energy.”
Although caffeine consumed in small increments can help increase attention span, focus, and energy levels, next time you’re craving it think about the consequences.
The McNicholas Milestone 