Why do teenagers drink a lot of caffeine? While the amount of daily caffeine intake for teenagers can vary, many teenagers consume more than the recommended amount of no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day. Whether it’s to stay awake in class or because they enjoy the taste, consuming large amounts of caffeine daily is harmful to your health. 

People may consume too much caffeine because their parents and peers do. It seems normal for them to do the same. However, over-consuming caffeine can lead to sleep disturbances, anxiety, cardiovascular and digestive problems, headaches, dizziness, and dehydration. 

          “Teenagers are still growing, and caffeine isn’t good for them,” said GCHS freshman Claira Sharani, who used to drink tea almost every day before school last year. “They drink a lot of caffeine because they’re sleep-deprived, and because they like it and it tastes good, but once they have [some], they start having [it daily], and it can turn into an addiction.” 

              Caffeine addiction is damaging for teenagers because it can lead to dependence. Dependence can cause tolerance, which requires more caffeine to feel the same effects, and can lead to withdrawal symptoms when your consumption of caffeine stops. Teenagers who go through withdrawal, when they stop consuming caffeinated drinks routinely, often experience the same kind of health effects as when they go through caffeine addiction. 

           Ultimately, the overconsumption of caffeine is harmful to teenagers because it can cause both physical and mental health issues, and turn into an addiction, which is especially harmful for teens. After all, their brains are still developing.