Energy Drink Consumption by Online College Students

Sales of energy drinks have increased over the last several decades, and now it is a billion dollar industry. Who purchases and consumes these beverages? Current marketing campaigns target young adults less than 30 years of age. Recent studies suggest this is the group that buys and consumes the most energy drinks. This study investigated energy drink consumption among students at an online university, the American Public University System (APUS). The students at APUS are a unique student group compared to the traditional brick and mortar college student because they tend to be older, have families, and be in established careers. As well, more than 60% are in the military. Energy drinks may affect older subjects differently because of aging processes. Two‐thirds of survey responders were male with an average age of 32 ± 7 years, but age ranged from 19 to 62 years. Sixty‐nine % were in the military, 57% were men, 70% were married, and 60% worked more than 40 hours per week. In the month preceding the survey, 57 % consumed an energy drink. On average, eight drinks were consumed but the number of drinks ranged from 0 to 170 drinks or about 6 per day. These were split 50/50 between sugar‐free and sugar‐containing beverages. The two top reasons for consuming these drinks were “as a pick me up” or “for work.” Woman were more likely to drink energy drinks for work and a pick me up (84%) than men (63%). Most participants claimed they were aware of the ingredients in energy drinks, particularly the “energy” boosters. As brick and mortar students, some respondents experienced side effects and the most common was jitters, but less than half of those drinking energy drinks experienced the jitters. In conclusion, non‐traditional, older college students consume energy drinks for the same reasons younger students at brick and mortar universities use these beverages. Older users experience similar side effects, yet the impact on the aging process is not known. Support or Funding Information Funded by the American Public University