Do teenagers drink coffee just to feel cool?

Before a day of shopping with my 10-year-old daughter, she insisted we stop at Starbucks. Coffee wasn't her choice – she chose one of those new boba tea drinks – but I know a caffeine-infused drink isn't far away. My 13-year-old daughter has her Starbucks coffee order: a large brown sugar oat milk shake with vanilla cold foam.

Of course, my kids aren't the only young Starbucks fans, with a new survey finding that caffeine consumption among 13- to 18-year-olds is common in the United States. Researchers at CS Mott Children's Hospital surveyed parents of teenagers and found that 31 percent drank coffee regularly. Other high-caffeine drinks popular among this age group were soda, tea and energy drinks. This follows older research that shows daily caffeine consumption has increased among adolescents.

Why do young people sip these seemingly adult drinks? Forty-three percent responded due to its presence in their favorite drinks, while 23 percent cited peer influence. Indeed, while tweens and teens are flooding Sephora and boys as young as 10 are begging their parents to buy luxury cologne because of a TikTok trend called odormaxxing, it's not It's not a stretch to think that middle and high schoolers are dabbling in coffee drinks to appear older and, well, cool.

“There is definitely a social element to caffeine and its popularity,” says David Nazarian MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician and medical director of My Concierge MD in Los Angeles.

The proof is in the Venti-sized spending that Greenlight found for abandoned children and teens at Starbucks in 2023. According to data from the Family Money app, the coffee giant made $21 million from teenagers last year. Compare that to $12.1 million in 2022 and $0.6.6 million in 2021, and you can see how well the channel has shined among Gen Z.

Why do teenagers drink coffee?

Some may like the taste, but a lot of that will depend on peer pressure and image. “Drinking coffee can be a way to appear more mature,” says Natalie Hilberg, MSW, a licensed clinical social worker in the youth department of the Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Los Angeles. “Customizing their coffee order with specific preferences can make them feel unique and grown-up.”

Hilberg points out that sipping a Starbucks drink can add to their social influence, since the logos can be status symbols. Social media can also influence our children when it comes to their coffee habits.

“Social media creates FOMO in many areas of children’s lives,” says Titania Jordan, director of parenting at Bark Technologies and co-author of Parenting in a technological world. “Trendy baristas, lifestyle influencers and coffee bloggers are all filling their social media feeds with tantalizing photos of their latest latte masterpieces, taking coffee culture to the next level. Add to this the numerous online promotions, many of which directly target teenagers, offering high-sugar caffeinated drinks, and it's no wonder they're becoming addicted.

But peer pressure and what they see on TikTok isn't the only reason young people are indulging in espresso drinks. It's important to note that culture plays a significant role in coffee consumption, with a 2015 study finding that children of Hispanic mothers were more likely to consume coffee. In fact, drinking coffee at a young age is common in many cultures.

Is coffee bad for children?

The obvious question many of us have as parents is whether the iced latte or cold drink they see online is safe for our tweens and teens. The quick answer is that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends against caffeine consumption for adolescents, citing the negative effects on sleep and the addictive nature of coffee and energy drinks.

For those of us adults who enjoy the grace of our morning coffee routine, it's important to point out that the health benefits associated with the sanity-saving beverage, such as longevity and heart health , in general, do not apply to our children. . “Caffeine can have many effects on the body, especially in young people,” says Dr. Nazarian.

These effects include an elevation of mood and a burst of energy, as well as increased focus. “But it can also cause anxiety, nervousness, heart palpitations and high blood pressure,” says Dr. Nazarian.

It can also elevate the heart rate, which can lead to an irregular heartbeat that can be dangerous. Additionally, excessive caffeine consumption can impact sleep and cause insomnia.

“As a result, teens who consume too much caffeine and don't get restful sleep may be tired the next day,” says Dr. Nazarian. “This can lead them to consume more caffeine to stay awake and fall into a vicious cycle.”

Additionally, Dr. Nazarian warns, regular caffeine consumption can lead to tolerance and dependence. He adds: “There are also research reports that show that excessive caffeine consumption can cause calcium depletion and increase the risk of bone fractures.”

His last word on the subject? “Even though caffeine may improve attention and concentration in the short term, consuming it at a young age can harm healthy brain development.”

That's why Dr. Nazarian recommends that parents discuss the potential harmful effects of caffeine consumption with their children.

As for our family, I'm not too worried about my middle schoolers sampling the latest Starbucks drink. I guess if that's my biggest fish to face in this crazy, difficult time we're living in, we're doing great!