B1 – Intermediate
Coffee, sodas or tea? Staying awake or getting enough energy to get through the day is something so necessary these days that energy drink manufacturers have become more creative.
Read the article to know what’s going on in the world of energy drinks.
More than 500 new energy drinks have been released this past year, and it has doctors worried. Nutritionists warn that the large amounts of caffeine and sugar in each drink can hook kids on an unhealthy up-and-down cycle. The drinks contain megadoses of vitamins, too. These can cause their own side effects if taken every day for a period of months. But maybe the most alarming news comes from reports that kids are drinking several in a row for the high it gives. More and more calls are coming in to poison-control centers from young people sick on too much caffeine.
Danger adds to the appeal. Most brands target in on the danger, particularly towards male teens and twenty-somethings. There is “Cocaine Energy Drink,” “Pimpjuice,” and “Bawls.” Hannah Kirby, the creator ofCocaine Energy Drink, said she first wanted to call it “Reboot”–“a pretty ho-hum name.” But the name was already taken, so she chose to be daring. The drink is getting the attention she desires, too. Kids quickly noticed it among a thousand other energy drinks. Their slogan: “The Legal Alternative.”
Some beer manufacturers now produce “energy beers,” or beer that contains caffeine. But mixing energy drinks with alcohol isn’t so new. Bartenders have been mixing the first energy drink in the West, called “Red Bull,” for more than a decade with vodka. Although the energy drink-alcohol combination doesn’t make you feel as drunk, you still are. Coordination and reaction times worsen. The potential for accidents and alcohol poisoning increases.
Just how much caffeine does an energy drink contain? A study at the University of Florida discovered that many of the drinks contain two to four times the amount of caffeine as Coke. The serving size, though, is usually one-third smaller than a standard can. Energy drinks aren’t regulated in the U.S., but the study strongly suggests warning labels.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks?
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous?
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular?
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal?
26 replies on “Chasing That Caffeine High”
1. Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks?
Yes, few years ago I worked as a bartender in the night and sometimes I needed some energy and drank coke with red bull to keep from falling asleep.
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous?
I think that energy drinks are dangerous if you drink too much; like everything, the important thing is to know not to abuse its consumption.
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular?
The marketing work of brands makes more and more people see them attractive.
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal?
Coffee has many nutritional benefits, although it is true that not all people can metabolize caffeine well, but that does not mean we can say that it is bad for everyone.
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1. Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks? I tried them when I was younger but I don’t like them because they are too sweet.
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous? I think that they can be dangerous if you take them every day and without control as many other things. In addition I’ve heard some people telling that their pulse became very fast when they drink a lot of these drinks.
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular? I guess it’s because they give a lot of “instant” energy and people feel more awake at the moment.
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal? I think this is because you need a very high dosis of cafferine to be as dangerous as other ilegal drugs.
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1. Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks?
I tasted it only one time and I didn’t like it.
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous?
I know that to take too much caffeine is not good for our health but before reading the article I didn’t know that this kind the caffeine drinks were so bad.
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular?
I think that the energy drinks are so popular for the publicity done for the drink’s companies. They promise to have energy for the whole night.
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal?
The caffeine is considered a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system, increasing alertness. Regarding caffeine we would have to drink a lot of caffeine to have the evil effect of illegal drugs.
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1. Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks?
I have drunk energy drinks only for professional reasons, and only in small quantities just to develop an equivalent product in the laboratory.
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous?
Like all foods in an energy drink, the risk depends on the dose.
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular?
I think the reason energy drinks are popular is because of their caffeine level and cognitive properties.
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal?
I think the difference between caffeine and other drugs is the dosage to produce an unwanted effect on the body.
Its use has also been very popular since the 16th century in Western societies and this has contributed to its social acceptance
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1. I drank them once or twice when I was a teenager and didn’t know any better. They were considered to be cool, among my friends.
2. They can easily lead to unhealthy behaviour, because the general public doesn’t know what amount of caffeine can be hazardous for you and it doesn’t take too many drinks to reach that level. In contrast, it’s much harder to get a caffeine overdose with regular coffee.
3. There are many possible explanations. For some people, energy drinks might mean an increase in productivity. A much needed helping hand in today’s society, where one’s productivity seems to be the basis of one’s worth. Although, I belive that, for a lot of other people, the answer is the answer boils down to clever marketing departments.
4. This is a fantastic question that has been the basis of many debates. I will give a simple, superficial answer in order not to get too deep into philosophical debates about individual freedoms and personal responsibility; and individualism versus collectivism. I believe that the prohibition of a drug depends on the ease and harm of an addiction. Judging by these metrics, caffeine shouldn’t be prohibited.
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I have never drunk a whole energy drink. I’ve tried it but I’ve never liked it.
I’ve had Red Bull and different types of Monster, but it tastes like a medicine for me.
I think energy drinks are dangerous because they are addictive. Most addictive things are bad for our health.
As we can read in the article, it contains a lot of caffeine and sugar so it is dangerous if you drink it every day.
Energy drinks are very popular among young people. Brands are pushing the message that you will feel cool and adventurous if you drink them. They feel the pressures of high school, exams, grades, university entrance and believe that if they drink energy drinks they are better equipped to cope with everyday life.
Caffeine is addictive but no more harmful than other drugs. It is a common drug, yet the authorities should warn about its effects, just as they do with alcohol or tobacco.
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I used to drink energy drinks when I was in university, especially on summer, because it was too hot to drink coffee and I didn’t like iced coffee. The drink I used to drink the most was Monster.
However, I stopped drinking these because I was getting addicted, and I knew they are not healthy (maybe I drunk 2 or 3 Monsters per day). I’ve been always addicted to caffeine, but these drinks also contain sugar and other additives.
I don’t know if energy drinks are becoming more popular. If they were, that might be because their composition must change with every new discover of manufacturers about additives with the objective of obtaining more sells, I guess.
In my opinion, caffeine is legal as nicotine; it is harmful for oneself if we don’t take control of the doses we drink, but we are responsible about our self-health. But in contrast to cocaine, heroin, or hallucinogens, for example, caffeine cannot provoke an aggressive, violent or antisocial behavior.
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1. Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks?
I have never tried an energy drink. Maybe it’s because of the packaging design and advertisement, I don’t belong to their target audience. the image and non known flavour don’t attract my attention.
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous?
I think that energy drinks are dangerous not really for the drink but because they are directed to a teenage audience who is looking for a cheap and quick experience with unlimited effects. the problem is not the drink but its comsumption in high amounts without thinking about the consequences.
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular?
Energy drinks have entered strongly among young people sponsoring alternative sport events, also have an appropriate advertising image for the age which it is directed. they spend big amounts of money in advertising.
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal?
Caffeinne is addictive an legal as well as other drugs such as alcohol or tobacco. I think it is due to the way of comsuming them in a tradicional way, in family at home, with friends in bars and restaurant or even in the job place, this has been socially accepted for hundred of years.
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1.Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks?
I only drink energy drinks after doing sports. I usually drink Aquariaus, but I don´t like other energy drinks .
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous?
I think energy drinks are not healthy, they are addictive and they have many stimulants.
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular?
The energy drinks usually have TV advertising very attractive for young people, especially to catch the attention of teenagers.
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal?
Caffeine is less addictive than other drugs, but I think that excessive consumption of coffee is also harmful to health.
I had to spot drinking coffee because at night my heart was racing, I felt palpitations and I felt very nervous
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1. Have you ever (or do you often) drink energy drinks?
I have never drunk energy drinks. Time ago I tasted redbull and I did’t like it and also I don’t drink energy drinks because make me feel very nervous.
2. Do you think energy drinks are dangerous?
Yes, I think If someone usually drinks energy drinks can be dangeruous for his or her health. Most of the time the body are nervous and maybe you don’t feel that you are nervous and drink more energy drink, and I think this it can not be good for the heart.
3. Why do you think energy drinks are becoming so popular?
I think that is a trend and people drink this for study or for don’t sleep… Before this drink people drank coffee for studie or for stay awake.
4. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Why is it legal when other harmful drugs are illegal?
I think because people consume a lot of products that contains caffeine, and maybe if caffeine would be illegal, many business would disappear.
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1. Yes, I think so. Occasionally I drink energy drinks to stay awake or to mix with alcoholic drinks.
2. Yes but it’s dangerous if the people drink a lot of energy drink.
I have listened that energy drinks with alcohol is dangeorus if you lost the correct word like knowledge but we use to explain this situation. I don’t know the word,sorry.
3. The energy drink effects are positive to special situation like to stand up in a party.
Also, te energy drinks companies have a good an international marketing. Its brand pay a lot of money to publish sports or another cultural activities.
4. Coca Cola has the power and manages a part of the world economy. It needs to sell its products to survive. It’s a joke.
Caffeine is like tobacco or alcohol, the goberns and the companies allow the sale of this products because this generate a lot of money
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I have never tried energy drinks, just because I am so nervous and I am afraid that these drinks affect to me severely. I know that some friends mind are taking energy drinks very often , when they need extra energy in their daily days activities.
If you drink them with moderation, I think they can not damage you at all, but the problem is that I think they became to be additives.
Thank you so much for taking the time in writing your answers to our questions for this lesson.
It would be better to use a modal in your sentences here:
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I ‘ve been drank energy drinks after a sports session many times but, Nowadays I don’t drink it never because they’re very dangerous to health.
“Red Bull gives you wings” , and other marketing strategies around the special properties of this kind of drinks have had a strong in the society and specially young people.
Caffeine has becoming an acceptable drug because it’s habitually consumed in drinks like for example, coffe. But for me it’s not a drug, it’s only a natural stimulant, like other natural stimulants you can find in nature, and it’s only dangerous in big consume.
In my case, I drank energy drinks long time ago (in parties, with alcohol) and in fact I think that they are not necessary in any case.
They have become so popular thanks to TV, Radio, etc. and their companies spend a lot of money in ads , trying to catch to everybody, not only adults, but young people, and here’s the problem.
Caffeine is addictive but we can’t compare its effects with the rest of drugs, so I think that for this reason caffeine is legal and not the rest.
If you consume it with moderation or measure, I think that isn’t harmful, but in every case, I would forbid it to young people (like alcohol, for example).