Summary: Should Caffeine Be Regulated

Should Caffeine Be Regulated?

On average, people will consume about 300 mg of caffeine a day through mostly coffee, soda, and tea (Villanova). Caffeine is an addictive substance that is considered safe enough to be sold with few to no restrictions. People of any age can go to a convenience store or coffee shop to get their daily dose of caffeine and become addicted without realizing it. With recently updated laws on the restrictions of buying tobacco products in Oregon, questions of other possible restrictions on substances have surfaced. The question of whether or not products containing caffeine should be restricted in order to protect younger consumers is not a new issue. Many people have debated over whether or not the process would be worthwhile or necessary.

Some countries, like Canada, have already concluded the debate and have imposed age restrictions on purchasing caffeine. However, most places in the United States have not come to the same conclusion.
Caffeine is a stimulant that speeds up heart rate and temporarily enhances energy. It can also cause cardiovascular problems and anxiety. The substance is addictive and can cause withdrawal symptoms similar to those experienced by smokers attempting to quit smoking. In fact, caffeine and nicotine have many similar properties. Both substances are stimulants that people can easily become addicted to. Nicotine and caffeine can both cause similar health issues and consumption could lead to hospitalization in some cases. While there are many similarities between caffeine and nicotine, one large difference is how easily they can be obtained. In Oregon, the law states that you have to be 21 or older in order to purchase any products containing nicotine. According to Gordon Friedman, a reporter for the Oregonian, “Lawmakers who pushed the age-increase bill said addiction to tobacco usually starts young, and increasing the purchasing age may stave-off addiction and future disease” (Friedman). Meanwhile, people of any age can purchase products containing caffeine, even though it can lead to future addiction and health complications as well. Although the new Oregon law that raised the age requirement for nicotine products was mostly meant to keep cigarettes away from kids and young adults, the law still places an age requirement on nicotine gum and lozenges, which cause the same symptoms as caffeine does without the deadly risks of smoking or chewing tobacco.
There are many different products readily available for consumers to buy that are packed with caffeine. Coffee and soda are among the most common products containing caffeine, but some of the biggest problems with the substance come from energy drinks and energy shots. Energy drinks contain a large amount of caffeine and are designed to make people feel alert and energized. While the effect of energy drinks is real, people can easily buy more caffeine than their body can handle, which can lead to serious health problems that could cause hospitalizations. In a study done by consumer reports, data is presented that shows “Safe limits of caffeine consumption are still being studied, but data suggest that most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams per day; pregnant women, up to 200 milligrams; and children, up to 45 to 85 milligrams depending on weight” (consumer report). While this may seem like a high amount, it begins to seem smaller when taking into account the fact that some energy drinks can contain over 300 milligrams of caffeine. A single energy drink consumed by a child can already be over three times the safe amount for children to consume, but children are free to buy these drinks because they are not regulated in ways that other harmful substances are. One study done by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that the the amount of hospitalizations from energy drinks is steadily increasing, mostly among teenagers. The number of people who visited the emergency room due to complications with energy drinks more than doubled from around 10,000 in 2007 to about 20,700 in 2011 (the DAWN Report). The data shows that caffeine consumption is a growing problem that needs to be handled.
Many people that are against regulating caffeine use the argument that coffee has many health benefits when consumed in moderate amounts.

In fact, Robert Shmerling, a writer for Harvard Medical, explains that “some studies have shown that coffee has been linked to potential health benefits when consumed in moderation” (Shmerling). However, the studies referenced to in the article were all based on adult test subject, not children. Dr. Nicole Caldwell, assistant professor of pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, states that in children “ Caffeine can cause them to be hyperactive… also can make them nervous, anxious, worsen stomach problems and create sleep problems. Also, caffeine increases excitability within the heart, which can exacerbate the arrhythmia” (Caldwell). While caffein products may have some related health benefits for adults, it should still be regulated because of the harmful impact it can have on children. The regulation of caffeine would not take away the health benefits that some people believe to be linked with drinking coffee, it would simply restrict purchasing opportunities for younger people who are more susceptible to the harmful side effects that accompany the

substance.
While many people may understand the dangers of nicotine and agree with why there is an age restriction to buy it, not everybody understands that similarities that it shares with caffeine. If nicotine can be regulated in the way that it currently is, then caffeine should also be able to be regulated because of the similar addictive properties and chemical makeup. The amount of caffeine that is readily available for children to purchase and consume needs to be restricted in a similar way to that of nicotine in order to prevent many unnecessary health problems that are prevalent today.

Works Cited
“The DAWN Report.” Samhsa, 10 Jan. 2010, archive.samhsa.gov/data/2k13/DAWN126/sr126-energy-drinks-use.pdf.
Kelland, Kate. “Is Nicotine All Bad?” Scientific American, www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-nicotine-all-bad/.
“Caffeine: How Much Is Too Much?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Mar. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20045678.
Stromberg, Joseph. “This Is How Your Brain Becomes Addicted to Caffeine.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 9 Aug. 2013, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-is-how-your-brain-becomes-addicted-to-caffeine-26861037/
Shmerling, Robert H. “The Latest Scoop on the Health Benefits of Coffee.” Harvard Health Blog, 25 Sept. 2017, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-latest-scoop-on-the-health-benefits-of-coffee-2017092512429.
“The Buzz on Energy-Drink Caffeine.” Caffeine Levels in Energy Drinks - Consumer Reports, Consumer Reports Magazine, Dec. 2012, www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/12/the-buzz-on-energy-drink-caffeine/index.htm.
Friedman, Gordon R. “Oregon Becomes Fifth State to Increase Tobacco Age to 21.” OregonLive.com, OregonLive.com, 9 Aug. 2017, www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/08/oregon_becomes_third_state_to.html.
“About Caffeine.” Villanova University, Villanova University, www1.villanova.edu/villanova/studentlife/health/promotion/goto/resources/drugs/caffeine.html.
Caldwell, Nicole. “Is Caffeine Bad for Kids?” Live Science, 23 Feb. 2012, www.livescience.com/36164-caffeine-bad-kids.html.