It's 8:45 a.m., and the line at the kiosk stretches down the steps into the cafeteria. For the anticipatory students, it's the best moment of the day: coffee. A rise in caffeine culture at Latin has driven many students to consume coffees, lattes, or energy drinks daily, though some students still steer clear of the stimulant and its effects.
A central nervous system stimulant, caffeine can help improve concentration, alertness, and mood, and it has become a mainstay with students and staff at Latin and nationwide. According to the Addiction Center, more than 90% of adults in the United States drink caffeine on a regular basis, consuming an average of 200 mg of caffeine per day. People who drink caffeine on a daily basis can develop a tolerance, meaning that they require more and more caffeine to produce the same effects.
However, this habit can have consequences. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, too much caffeine can cause increased anxiety, heart rate, blood pressure, and acid reflux. Sophomore Vivian Sidrys said that despite encountering these side effects after drinking lattes from the kiosk, she buys the drinks four to five times a week.
“Sometimes I drink caffeine because I'm tired, but most of the time I just like the way the lattes taste,†she said. Vivian also feels that caffeine improves her academic performance because of the energy boost it gives her.
Noticing similar boosts, senior Sydney Dibble often relies on the productive benefits of coffee. During the summer, when she worked five to six days a week—12 hours a day—in a dentist's office and a boutique, she drank two cups per day. The American Medical Association (AMA) says that caffeine is proven to help with energy and motivation, in some cases even improving depression.
“I would get two coffees in the morning, drink one and leave the other one in my car to drink on the way to my second job,†Sydney said.
However, the average latte has between 60 and 160 mg of caffeine, and children between the ages of 12 and 17 are recommended to have less than 100 mg of caffeine per day, according to Columbia University. Thus, Sydney's habit creates a slight risk. Additionally, sometimes she drinks caffeine even if she doesn’t think she will benefit.
“I really drink it more for the placebo,†Sydney said, unsure if she actually feels the effects. She explained that although she isn't sure the caffeine works, the routine itself helps her feel more prepared and mentally ready for the day.
In contrast, junior Charlie Dann said he doesn't drink caffeine because it affects him negatively. The AMA underscores this approach with their research, saying that because caffeine speeds up some of the chemicals in your brain, it can increase anxiety and restlessness.
“When I have caffeine, I get too jittery,†he said. Charlie, a multi-sport athlete, feels that caffeine is a bad choice for him, even with all the physical activity he does.
Other athletes at Latin benefit from caffeine before their sports practices. In some cases, caffeine can decrease the feeling of fatigue and can improve endurance and speed. Additionally, caffeine comes in many forms other than coffee, such as energy drinks, tea, and even Honey Stinger Energy Chews, a caffeine supplement in a gummy form popular among runners.
“I do think I run better at cross country meets when I have an energy chew before,†Vivian, a track and cross country runner, said.
While the 100 mg recommendation applies to teens, for adults, under 400 mg per day is considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Not only are the students at Latin consuming caffeine, but so are some faculty and staff.
“I like that bitter taste,†Upper School receptionist Sami Aday said, reflecting on his coffee intake.
Sami has caffeine six to seven times a week, drinking two pods of coffee a day, which totals between 150 and 300 mg of caffeine, according to Keurig, a popular coffee company. Sami said he only drinks coffee for the taste and doesn't feel the effects of the caffeine.
“I could drink coffee at 9 and go to bed by 9:30,†he said. “I don't believe it will wake you up.â€
In contrast, Charlie feels caffeine negatively affects his sleep cycle. “I used to drink caffeine, but it made me sleep really bad,†he said.
Although Sami enjoys his coffee, he opposes energy drinks, especially a popular choice called Celsius. This energy drink brand offers over 40 flavors containing 200 mg of caffeine per drink.
“I'm anti-energy drink. I'm anti-Celsius,†he said.
Vivian had the same view on energy drinks, stopping her consumption of Celsius because of the negative impact it had on her health.
“I don't drink Celsius anymore because it gave me migraines,†she said.
Celsius is not alone in containing potentially dangerous amounts of caffeine. Alani, sold at Potash and popular with Latin students, also has 200 mg of caffeine per can. Many other energy drinks seem to follow this same high-caffeine pattern.
Moreover, similar to other drugs, when people stop drinking caffeine after prolonged use, they will start to suffer from withdrawal symptoms, according to Addiction Center. The stimulation from caffeine isn't as significant as the one triggered by other addictive substances, but it's still potent.
“I feel like I'm starting to develop a dependency,†Vivian said.
