Gen Z’s Need for Caffeine
Gen Z’s caffeine addiction has climbed to alarming levels, thanks to the countless convenient, delicious, and trendy caffeinated drinks so readily available today. As Gen Z enters adulthood, many find themselves dependent on morning coffees and energy drinks to get them through the day and often find themselves reaching for seconds and thirds to support them through study sessions, PM workouts, or evenings out.
The convenience of buying an energy drink is one of the reasons for the recent spike. You can find them at gas stations, grocery stores, vending machines, and even places that value health, like gyms. Needing a pre-workout energy drink to power a workout routine has become the new normal.
It’s become a cycle that’s hard to escape. It is an enjoyable routine; wake up, pick a fun flavor or a giant sugary latte, and fuel up for the day. This big morning boost inevitably leads to a crash later that requires more caffeine consumption to recover from. While the routine may be fun, consuming high amounts of caffeine daily can have harmful effects on the body.
For young people especially, the less caffeine, the better. The recommended caffeine intake for teens is 100 milligrams or less per day. Certain energy drinks, like Celsius, have over double the amount of caffeine in one cup of coffee. The brightly colored, cartoonish energy drink cans make them stand out to the younger generation and entice them to pick one up. For some teens, the promise of more energy to get them through the day outweighs the negative health effects.
Don’t be fooled— the fun-colored cans can be dangerous, especially to growing teens and kids. There’s been a recent spike in caffeine-related emergencies for teenagers. Kids as young as eleven years old have been caught up in caffeine-related incidents. The consistent, high amounts of caffeine can impact the bodies of growing teenagers, especially when we don’t know the long-term effects.
It’s not all bad.
Gen Z and younger are taking strides toward living healthy lifestyles and prioritizing taking care of their bodies. Fitness routines, whether in a gym or at home, have become a focus. Many set health goals for themselves (ex.hitting 10,000 steps a day) and hold themselves accountable by posting online. Furthermore, consumption of alcohol is majorly down in Gen Z, as they spend their money and time on products that support protein intake, hydration, and wellness goals. And physical health is just one component of wellness. Mental health is also critical, with anxiety in youths at all-time highs. Conscious caffeine consumption is and should be a part of that journey.
Decaf coffee is an easy way to still enjoy the coffee routine so many love to start their day with, without the damaging effects of over-caffeination. Not only does mental health improve as the physical anxiety symptoms caused by caffeine are reduced, but physical health improves through better sleep, fewer cortisol spikes, and candidly— a lot less artificial dyes and ingredients entering your body (energy drinks are virtually a chemical cocktail!). Coffee is a plant and a natural antioxidant. And Sneaky Brew lattes use only organic beans and simple, real ingredients—making a decaf latte the better choice for filling a craving while reclaiming physical wellness and mental calmness.
Caffeine addiction is real, and restoring natural energy through mindful consumption is one of the many ways young people are leading the charge in healthy living.