“I know this sounds bad, but I can stop anytime I want,” said sophomore Andrei Imensek. As soon as this leaves his mouth, classmates can spot Imensek reaching for his preferred energy drink, Celsius, out of his bag almost every morning–proceeding to enjoy this caffeinated treat day after day.

     Energy drinks, such as Celsius and Alani, are becoming increasingly popular among kids, as seen in a survey conducted with 78 Shorecrest students. According to that same survey, almost half of Upper School consume energy drinks regularly–41 percent. Students typically have energy drinks for staying alert while studying, doing extracurricular activities, or simply just enjoying the taste, however, the need for them has changed over the years.

     Junior Betty Li said, “I started drinking energy drinks because I had volleyball and stuff.  There was just a lot on the schedule. I had to go after school and then also go home and be able to do homework.” 

     Senior Annabelle Ferguson said, “I think they taste good and help keep me awake, especially now, because I have to do so much college stuff.”

     On the other hand,  Sophomore Bobbie Strus has never had an energy drink. Strus said, “I know some people that have four a day. For example, one of my friends had an addiction where she had five a day and she got really sick, so I don’t recommend it.”

     Unfortunately, this habit can seriously be detrimental to one’s health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; issues like dehydration, anxiety, insomnia, and other heart-related issues can arise from overconsumption of energy drinks, eventually leading to irregular heartbeats or even heart failure.

     A study by the American Heart Association showed that the heart’s ability to deliver blood to organs declines after having just one energy drink. Additionally, according to the National Library of Medicine, the body also exhibits a rise in blood pressure due to overconsumption of energy drinks.

     Sophomore Claire James’ mother banned energy drinks in her house due to their health risks. She said, “My mom used to make me drink beet juice because she thought that it would unclog my blood vessels.”

     Although most students who responded to the survey claim to drink energy drinks simply because they enjoy the taste, others, like Li, realize how addictive they are.

     “I think it is addictive in the sense that you won’t get the same amount of energy anywhere else,” said Li. “Now, it is difficult for me to just go through my day without an energy drink just because I don’t have the amount of alertness in my brain. I just feel tired without it.”