A Red Bull hums with trapped carbonation. A few desks down, a venti cold brew trembles in an unsteady hand. Behind that, it’s a Celsius. To the left, a Monster. If you took a walk around campus, these are some of the drinks you might see—a variegated selection from Potomac’s sophisticated taste profile. Each drink is different, but one ingredient is ubiquitous: caffeine.
Children and teenagers are the fastest-growing population of caffeine consumers, with a 70% increase in caffeine use over the past three decades. A 2023 Mayo Clinic study found that 83% of teens ages 13-18 consume caffeine regularly, and 96% drink it semi-regularly—a shift that highlights just how deeply ingrained the stimulant has become in today’s culture. Potomac is no exception. The Current’s anonymous survey found that out of 119 participants, 65.5% drink caffeine at least once a week, and 28.6% rely on it daily.
For Potomac students, each sip serves a different purpose. We asked students, “What do you think is the leading reason behind the recent spike in teen caffeine consumption?” One student offered, “The pressure for perfection causes students to push themselves to their limits just to study a few more hours, practice a few more times, or any small benefit they can get,” highlighting how some use caffeine as a tool to shoulder the weight of academic pressure. Other responses echoed the same sentiment: “Too much work,” “’Cause school’s tiring,” and aptly, “The grind.”
For others, it’s less about necessity and more about enjoyment. Many Potomac students just like the taste. One participant wrote, “[Caffeinated drinks] taste good and are trendy,” while another confessed, “I am addicted to the taste of Dr. Pepper.” Indeed, caffeine comes in many enticing forms. There are nearly 30 different Celsius flavors and too many Starbucks drinks to count. More often than not, these drinks contain as much sugar as caffeine. Sugar and caffeine work together to stimulate the release of dopamine, the chemical of “more,” which heightens alertness and builds addiction. “For some people, caffeine gives them energy, so they drink it in the mornings to get going and multiple times a day if they need a pick-me-up,” a Potomac student noted. Eventually, this cycle turns into a mild addiction that keeps them coming back for more.
And then, there’s the simplest—but perhaps most nuanced—reason of all: having something to hold in your hand. Students explained that a lot of people drink caffeine because “everyone’s doing it, and we like having something to hold in our hands.” Behind the scenes, skilled marketing has woven caffeine into the quintessential daily routine, blurring the line between habit and norm. The rise of aesthetic-driven content has helped normalize caffeine as more than just a source of energy, but also as a symbol of efficiency and the peak of trendiness. The routines, the aesthetics, and the trends drive the standardization of caffeine as a daily accessory and a subtle social staple, turning a simple habit into a cultural phenomenon with Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” as its anthem.
But caffeine, in all its glory, is best in moderation. Adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams daily (about four cups of coffee). However, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, teens aren’t recommended to have more than 100 milligrams (about one cup of coffee or half a can of Monster). There’s a reason for this: the National Library of Medicine suggests that following the guidelines ensures better sleep quality and earlier bedtimes. Still, it’s not uncommon to see adolescents down multiple energy drinks a day. These drinks are formulated with high doses of caffeine in small, convenient cans, making accidental overconsumption effortless. Over the past few years, high-caffeine beverages have come under close scrutiny, and many drinks have been banned for serious health concerns (goodbye and good riddance, Panera Charged Lemonade). However, while companies are working on making caffeine more user-friendly, we can control our caffeine consumption, too. So if you’re working late (cause you’re a singer), definitely enjoy your energy drink, but maybe put half of it in the fridge for tomorrow. And if your heart’s beating faster than Sabrina Carpenter sells out stadiums, it’s time to pump the brakes.
