Caffeine: The Most Popular Drug in the World

F.B. Brookings
Mar 6
4 min read

“Caffeine is the world’s most popular drug. Caffeine occurs naturally in products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola soft drinks, and is added to a variety of prescription and over-the-counter medications, including cough, cold, and pain remedies.” according to Camh. (the Center for Addiction and Mental Health) Think about all of the products you use day to day that use caffeine, coffee, energy drinks like Red Bull, and even sodas like Coca-Cola. With 33 milligrams of caffeine for every 330 milligrams of beverage, according to the Coca-Cola company. But what does that actually mean? What does caffeine do in our bodies? And how much can we as humans consume before it becomes dangerous?

For reference, we will use one Red Bull as a unit of measurement. In one 8.3 fl oz can of Red-Bull there is 80 mg of caffeine. Which is about the same as an equivalent amount of home-brewed coffee. According to the Red Bull website. So be sure to check the size of any given beverage and check the nutrition facts to see the exact amount for your beverage.

An image says 'Available in" at the top, and the listing can sizes '8.40z, 12oz, 16oz, and 20oz.' Below each number is a can of Red-Bull of corresponding size to the oz amount. — Image by Walmart

According to the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration) Serious toxicity happens at rapid consumption of about 1200 mg, which can have serious consequences such as seizures. Although these products have been regulated, please exercise extreme caution. Furthermore, the FDA states that medical experts advise against teens and children consuming energy drinks due to high levels of caffeine and sugar. “For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams * a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.” According to the FDA, even for Decaffeinated beverages, that does not mean that there is none present, with the FDA stating “Decaffeinated coffees and teas have less caffeine than their regular counterparts, but still contain some caffeine. For example, decaf coffee typically has 2 to 15 milligrams in an 8-fluid-ounce cup. If you react strongly to caffeine in a negative way, you may want to avoid these beverages altogether.”

A brown background, with white powder on it, and a metal spoon holding some powder as well. The text for the image says 'image of pure caffeine.' — Image of pure caffeine by Business Insider

Aside from the general dangers related to caffeine, it is true it can be dangerous, but caffeine can help many people. “Caffeine stimulates the brain, elevates the mood, and postpones fatigue. It also enhances performance at simple intellectual tasks and at physical work that involves endurance, but not fine motor coordination,” according to the camh. As well as studies, “Results showed that 85% of the U.S. population consumes at least one caffeinated beverage per day.” According to PubMed. They also stated that Caffeine is one of the most researched chemicals in the world. With PubMed also stating that more or less caffeine is safe for most demographics to consume up to 400 milligrams per day. But that number is easter to reach than one would think according to the FDA that is equivalent to “about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee” for reference “Common sizes (of red bull) include: 8.4 fl oz (250 ml), 12 fl oz (355 ml), and 16 fl oz (473 ml) cans, while in some locations a 20 fl oz (591 ml) can is also available.” So to reach the recommended safe dose of caffeine for the day, that's three 12 oz red bulls, which does not sound very difficult.

“Regular use of caffeine can make you physically dependent on caffeine. That means that if you abruptly stop using caffeine-containing products, you may feel edgy and tired and have a bad headache.” As stated by the camh. According to WebMD, withdrawal can be rough. “You may feel the effects for a day or more, especially if you usually have two or more cups of coffee a day.” but stating that, if you slowly decrease the amount of your caffeine intake, you might not be affected much, if at all. So it is dissimilar to other addictive substances in that way. Overall Caffeine is a tool, neither good nor bad, but an incredibly popular one, no matter how you look at it.

Works Cited

Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). “Caffeine.” CAMH, 2011, https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/caffeine. Accessed 20 September 2025.

The Food and Drug Administration. “Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?” FDA, 28 August 2024, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much. Accessed 20 September 2025.

Loria, Kevin. “Buying Pure Caffeine Powder Off the Internet.” Business Insider, 2 September 2015, https://www.businessinsider.com/buying-pure-caffeine-powder-off-the-internet-2015-9. Accessed 20 September 2025.

Nawrot, P., et al. “Effects of Caffeine on human health.” Pub Med, 2003, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12519715/. Accessed 20 9 2025.

Red Bull GmbH. “Red Bull Energy Drink: Ingredients.” Red Bull, https://www.redbull.com/us-en/energydrink/products/red-bull-energy-drink-ingredients-list. Accessed 20 September 2025.

Stuart, Annie, et al. “Caffeine Facts: Addiction, Insomnia, Pregnancy Effects, and More.” WebMD, 9 August 2025, https://www.webmd.com/diet/caffeine-myths-and-facts. Accessed 20 September 2025.

Walmart Inc. “Red Bull Energy Drink, 80mg Caffeine, 8.4 fl oz Can.” Walmart, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Red-Bull-Energy-Drink-80mg-Caffeine-8-4-fl-oz-Can/17056922. Accessed 20 September 2025.

F.B. Brookings is a sophomore at Poudre High School. This is his first year in the Poudre Press. He is currently involved in many clubs at Poudre, including but not limited to Model UN, Mock Trial, and Math Club. In his spare time, he loves to read a good book, learn new things, and play with his cat, Ru.