CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Energy drinks are beverages (e.g., Red Bull, Venom, Burn, Monster, Rock Star, Rip It, Full Throttle, Cocaine, Amp, and Adrenaline Rush) that contain large doses of caffeine and other legal stimulants such as taurine, carbohydrates, glucuronolactone, inositol, niacin, panthenol, and B-complex vitamins. Hundreds of different brands on the market have high caffeine content, ranging from a modest 50mg to an alarming 505mg per can or bottle (Reissig et al., 2009). Energy drink consumption has continued to gain popularity since 1997 (Malinauskas et al., 2007). More than 500new energy drinks were launched worldwide in 2006 and beverage companies are reaping the financial rewards of the 5.7 billion dollar energy drink industry (Boyle and Castillo, 2006). Attila and Çakir (2011)reported that energy-drink market has grown exponentially over the past decade and the aggressive marketing of energy drinks over the world, targeted primarily toward young adults (men in particular) and using energy drinks is a popular practice among college students for a variety of situations. The mix of stimulants and "energy boosters" in energy drinks is intended to produce a "jolt" of energy to the drinker (Boyle and Castillo, 2006). Energy drinks generally contain 80 to 141 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces, which is the caffeine equivalent of five ounces of coffee or two 12-ounce cans of caffeinated soft beverages like Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, or Dr. Pepper (Pronsky, 1997). Energy drinks come in both sugared and sugar-free varieties. Monster Energy, for example, has 24 grams of sugar per 8 ounces (12 percent sugar content), while Rip It A'Tomic Pom has 33 grams (14 percent sugar content) (Malinauskas et al.,2007). In several studies, energy drinks were found to increase attention, response times, and alertness indices; the combination of caffeine and glucose can alleviate cognitive performance impairments and subjective weariness over prolonged periods of cognitive stress. However, certain components in energy drinks, including sugar and caffeine, may have unfavorable health effects in children and should be taken with caution. Energy drinks include stimulants that can increase heart rate and blood pressure, dehydrate the body, intensify the effects of other stimulants, and keep you up at night (Attila and akir, 2011). Unlike sports drinks, which are recommended for athletes, energy drinks should not be used while exercising since the combination of fluid loss, perspiration, and the diuretic properties of caffeine can produce dehydration (Waring et al.,2003).

Statement of problem

Students who consume energy drinks are more likely to participate in other risky behaviors, such as engaging in unsafe sex or participating in extreme sports. Those that drink the beverage acquire a habit of overindulging. As a result, energy drink users were found to have alcohol-related issues twice as often as non-users, while others used hard substances like marijuana twice as frequently. Without a doubt, the majority of Energy drink consumers utilize pharmaceuticals to boost their performance and attention without being aware of the medications' negative side effects. Others have been using energy drinks containing up to four times the quantity of caffeine as a result of their desire to employ stronger chemicals. These beverages contain hazardous stimulants that can lead to addiction and serious health problems. While drinking an energy drink has become a common part of a student life, there are a number of negative consequences to having too much energy. The daily quantity of caffeine considered safe for adults is 400 mg on average, though each person's body may have a different caffeine tolerance. Because caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, it has been shown that higher doses can cause restlessness, sleeplessness, high blood pressure, jitters, and an elevated heart rate.

Objective of the study

The following are the primary objective of the study

1. To investigate the reasons why students result to consuming energy drinks

2. To examine the effect of energy drink consumption on the academic performance of students

3. To access the impact of energy drinks on students health

Research questions

1. What is the reason for the consumption of energy drinks by students

2. Do  the consumption of energy drink by students affect their academic performance

3. What impact do energy drinks have on students health

Significance of the study

Energy drinks are widely consumed by university students, especially teenagers and young people from affluent backgrounds. The students claimed to be aware of the chemicals in the beverages as well as the potential health risks associated with them. This study will be useful to parents, teachers, health educators, and media professionals because it will help them in their efforts to educate the public (particularly teenagers) about the dangers of energy drinks and to improve motivation for a healthy diet.

Scope of the study

The  study is to assess the awareness and consumption of energy drinks among university students. The sample respondent of this study will be students of covenant university.

Limitation to the study

Finance, inadequate research materials and time constraint were the major challenges the researcher encountered during the course of this study

Definition of terms

Energy drink: An energy drink is a type of drink containing stimulant compounds, usually caffeine, which is marketed as providing mental and physical stimulation (marketed as "energy", but distinct from food energy).

References

1. Adulgafar, O.J , Abdulfatai, B. (2014) Prevalence of stimulant drink consumption among university students in north western Nigeria. Article. Vol 3 issue 4. ISSN 2278 -0211

2. Yunusa, I. , Gumel, M.A , Ahmad, I. M (2012) Energy drinks consumption among adolescence and young adults from two universities in kano, Nigeria. Biological and environmental sciences journal. ISSN 0794-9057

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