Celsius, Alani, Monsters, Yerba Mate, the list of energy drinks lining the shelves of convenience stores only gets longer. For students balancing school, sports and extracurricular activities, these colorful cans often feel like a quick fix for one problem: lack of sleep.
According to a 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention infographic, 30%–50% of adolescents are reported to consume energy drinks. Locally, Palo Alto High School students have said that energy drinks are increasingly common before sports games and late-night study sessions, raising important concerns about the health impacts of this growing trend among students.
Most teens know energy drinks are packed with caffeine, but few realize just how much.
“One drink can have as much as three cups of coffee,” said Ingrid Katz, a Palo Alto Unified School District nurse. “Even the American Nurses Association is suggesting to keep it under 100 grams of caffeine, and one drink has much, much more than that already.”
The health consequences of such high caffeine consumption go well beyond a short-lived boost.
According to Stanford University health educator Andrea Krenek, the risks can range from poor sleep quality, anxiety and gastrointestinal stress to severe cardiovascular impacts.
“These effects, among others, can be especially pronounced in adolescents while body systems are still developing and have possible lower body weights, making caffeine concentrations and other components more pronounced,” Krenek said in an email to Verde.
However, for students, awareness of these health effects doesn’t always translate to changed behavior. For many students, the immediate appeal of flavor and extra energy outweighs these potential consequences.
“I think most students know the risks,” sophomore Leo Foster said. “It’s just that they don’t care because it tastes good and they believe it gives them more energy to work.”
So, if students are aware of the negative effects of energy drinks, why do they continue to indulge in them?
“There are many reasons why products can be appealing,” Krenek stated. “But ‘quick fixes’, social media influence, a perceived need for energy support while learning to manage more busy schedules and promising (but often false) claims make energy drinks very popular. Long-term health risks are usually at the forefront of thoughts, especially during teenage years, and many have normalized consumption of these products as performance enhancers without recognizing or acknowledging the possible health implications.”
However, flashy advertisements and social influence are not the only culprits behind the addictive nature of these drinks.
“The pressures of doing well academically and in sports while managing other extracurricular activities can absolutely influence greater energy drink consumption,” Krenek stated. “Balancing so many demands can make reliance on energy drinks to support energy or give a ‘boost’ to get through all of these obligations, though the short-term possible benefits rarely consider long term health impacts.”
Experts note the reliance students develop on energy drinks often mirrors addictive patterns, where short-term relief evolves into a stronger dependence and side effects strikingly similar to those caused by other forms of addiction.
“Just as with any form of caffeine, energy drinks can create a form of comfort during stressful periods,” Krenek stated. “Increased intake can lead to increased tolerance, requiring more to experience similar effects… this can have even greater impacts on health risks and behaviors to feel energized. Withdrawal symptoms (headache, fatigue, irritability) can also be experienced after discontinuing regular, long-term consumption.”
For some students, the appeal of energy drinks has little to do with the actual benefits.
“They somewhat have a placebo effect,” Foster said. “If I really want to have one, it’ll probably be before a game or, if i’m extremely tired. I find them a little more risky bec fause they have a lot of bad chemicals in them.”
As deadlines, sports and extracurriculars continue to pile up, it’s no surprise that many teens depend on energy drinks as a solution. But for adolescents whose bodies are still developing, this short-term fix can lead to long-term problems. Instead of relying on energy drinks, health professionals encourage finding healthier ways to manage stress and fatigue.
“It’s important to work on addressing root causes as best as possible,” Krenek stated. “If you are looking to reduce energy drink consumption, you may need to do this gradually, while continuing to build skills in other lifestyle areas … for sustained energy that doesn’t come with a crash or health risks.”