Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Consumption of energy drinks among Québec college students

  • Quantitative Research
  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Consumption of energy drinks (ED) raises concerns because of adverse health effects possibly linked with high levels of caffeine and sugar intake. The study looks at the scope of ED consumption as well as some of the associated characteristics.

METHODS: Thirty-six public colleges in the Canadian province of Québec agreed to participate in a descriptive cross-sectional study (n = 36). In February 201 3, participating colleges invited their students to answer an online questionnaire on consumption of ED, alcoholic ED (AED), and ED in combination with other psychotropic drugs. A descriptive and correlational analysis was carried out. Logistic regressions explored associations between ED consumption and associated characteristics.

RESULTS: Of the students who successfully completed the questionnaire and participated in the study (n = 10,283), a low proportion consumed ED (9.1 %; n = 935) and/or AED (1.1 %; n = 109) at least once a week in the previous month. Although low in proportion, a number of participants reported having used ED with other stimulant psychoactive substances (n = 247) and ≥3 ED/day (n = 193) or ≥3 AED/occasion (n = 167), which can pose a risk for serious adverse effects. Weekly ED consumption was associated with consumption of ≥20 cups of coffee/week, smoking, excessive use of alcohol and past use of cannabis, glues or solvents and amphetamines.

CONCLUSION: A majority of respondents are not heavy users of ED, AED, or ED with drugs. Yet, the profiles of ED consumption potentially harmful to health that characterize some participants indicate that the potential health consequences of such behaviour are of concern.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS: La consommation des boissons énergisantes (BÉ) préoccupe en raison des effets sur la santé potentiellement liés à l’ingestion de grandes quantités de caféine et de sucre. Cette étude examine l’ampleur du phénomène de la consommation de BÉ ainsi que certaines caractéristiques associées.

MÉTHODES: Trente-six collèges publics du Québec ont accepté de participer à une étude descriptive transversale (n = 36). En février 201 3, les collèges participants ont invité leurs étudiants à répondre à un questionnaire en ligne concernant la consommation de BÉ, de BÉ alcoolisées (BÉA), et de BÉ pris en combinaison avec d’autres psychotropes. Une analyse descriptive et corrélationnelle a été effectuée. Des régressions logistiques ont exploré les associations entre la consommation de BÉ et certaines caractéristiques associées.

RÉSULTATS: Des étudiants ayant complété avec succès le questionnaire et participé dans l’étude (n = 10 283), une faible proportion a consommé des BÉ (9,1 %; n = 935) et/ou des BÉA (1,1 %; n = 109) ≥1 fois/semaine dans le dernier mois. Bien que faible en proportion, nombre de participants ont rapporté avoir ingéré des BÉ de façon concomitante avec d’autres substances psychoactives stimulantes (n = 247) et ≥3 BÉ/jour (n = 193) ou ≥3 BÉA/occasion (n = 167). L’ingestion hebdomadaire de BÉ était associée à une consommation de ≥20 tasses de café/semaine, de tabac, de consommation excessive d’alcool, de cannabis, de colles ou de solvants et d’amphétamines.

CONCLUSION: La majorité des répondants ne sont pas d’importants consommateurs de BÉ, de BÉA, et de BÉ avec drogues. Tout de même, les profils de consommation de BÉ potentiellement à risque pour la santé, qui caractérisent certains participants, imposent de se préoccuper des conséquences sanitaires potentielles de ce comportement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reissig CJ, Strain EC, Griffiths RR. Caffeinated energy drinks - A growing problem. Drug Alcohol Depend 2009;99(1-3):1–10. PMID: 18990513. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.08.001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Clauson KA, Shields KM, McQueen CE, Persad N. Safety issues associated with commercially available energy drinks. J Am Pharmacists Assoc 2008;48(3):e55–67. doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2008.07055.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ismail AI, Burt BA, Eklund SA. The cariogenicity of soft drinks in the United States. J Am Dent Assoc 1984;109(2):241–45. PMID: 6590604. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive. 1984.0346.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Olsen NJ, Heitmann BL. Intake of calorically sweetened beverages and obesity. Obes Rev 2009;10(1):68–75. PMID: 18764885. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2008.00523.X.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Arria AM, Caldeira KM, Kasperski SJ, O’Grady KE, Vincent KB, Griffiths RR, Wish ED. Increased alcohol consumption, nonmedical prescription drug use, and illicit drug use are associated with energy drink consumption among college students. J Addict Med 2010;4(2):74–80. PMID: 20729975. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0b013e3181aa8dd4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Brache K, Stockwell T. Drinking patterns and risk behaviors associated with combined alcohol and energy drink consumption in college drinkers. Addict Behav 2011;36(12):1133–40. PMID: 21840130. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.07.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Miller KE. Energy drinks, race, and problem behaviors among college students. J Adolesc Health 2008;43(5):490–97. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.03.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. O’Brien MC, McCoy TP, Rhodes SD, Wagoner A, Wolfson M. Caffeinated cocktails: Energy drink consumption, high-risk drinking, and alcohol-related consequences among college students. Acad Emerg Med 2008;15(5):453–60. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2008.00085.X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Snipes DJ, Benotsch EG. High-risk cocktails and high-risk sex: Examining the relation between alcohol mixed with energy drink consumption, sexual behavior, and drug use in college students. Addict Behav 2013;38(1):1418–23. PMID: 23006245. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.07.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ferreira SE, de Mello MT, Pompeia S, de Souza-Formigoni ML. Effects of energy drink ingestion on alcohol intoxication. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006; 30(4):598–605. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00070.X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Price SR, Hilchey CA, Darredeau C, Fulton HG, Barrett SP. Energy drink co-administration is associated with increased reported alcohol ingestion. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010;29(3):331–33. PMID: 20565526. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00163.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Thombs DL, O’Mara RJ, Tsukamoto M, Rossheim ME, Weiler RM, Merves ML, Goldberger BA. Event-level analyses of energy drink consumption and alcohol intoxication in bar patrons. Addict Behav 2010;35(4):325–30. PMID: 19954894. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.11.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ben Amar M. La polyconsommation de psychotropes et les principales interactions pharmacologiques associées. 2004. Available at: http://www.santecom.qc.ca/Bibliothequevirtuelle/Cqld/0978079760.pdf (Accessed December 4, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Allard P, Bélanger H, Paquin P. Boissons énergisantes prendre le taureau par les cornes! Médecin du Québec 2011;46(6):67–70.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ministère de l’éducation, du loisir et du sport (MELS). Statistiques de l’éducation - Enseignement primaire, secondaire, collégial et universitaire (Édition 2011). Québec, QC: Gouvernement du Québec, 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hovington J. Enquête sur la malbouffe: 10 000 jeunes se prononcent! 2012. Available at: http://ll.rseq.ca/download/attachments/15958040/Rapport +d’enquete-FRA-1-page.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1328122709903 (Accessed December 4, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ). Enquête québécoise sur le tabac, l’alcool, la drogue et le jeu chez les élèves du secondaire. 2008. Available at: http://www.stat.gouv.qc.ca/statistiques/sante/enfants-ados/alcool-tabac-drogue-jeu/tabac-alcool-drogue-jeu-2008.pdf (Accessed December 4, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Marczinski CA. Alcohol mixed with energy drinks: Consumption patterns and motivations for use in U.S. college students. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2011;8(8):3232–45. doi: 10.3390/ijerph8083232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Health Canada. It’s Your Health - Caffeine. 2010. Available at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/sc-hc/H13-7-2-2010-eng.pdf (Accessed December 4, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Gaudreault M, Gagnon M, Arbour N. Être jeune aujourd’hui: habitudes de vie et aspirations des jeunes des régions de la Capitale-Nationale, du Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean et des Laurentides. 2009. Available at: https://eduq.info/xmlui/handle/11515/19008 (Accessed December 4, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Pérusse-Lachance É, Drapeau V. Enquête sur les habitudes de vie des étudiants (es) et du personnel de l’Université Laval. Université Laval, Québec (Québec), 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Velazquez CE, Poulos NS, Latimer LA, Pasch KE. Associations between energy drink consumption and alcohol use behaviors among college students. Drug Alcohol Depend 2012;123(1-3):167–72. PMID: 22391133. doi: 10.1016/j. drugalcdep.2011.11.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Levels and Patterns of Alcohol Use in Canada. Ottawa, ON: CCSA, 2012. Available at: %http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Patterns-Alcohol-Use-Polic-Canada-2012-en.pdf (Accessed December 4, 2015).

  24. Morin P. Portrait des jeunes Sherbrookois de 4 à 17 ans en matière d’alimentation et d’activité physique et sportive. 2009. Available at: http://www.csss-iugs.ca/c3s/data/files/CSSS_IUGS_brochure_saines_%20habitudes.pdf (Accessed December 4, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Reid J, Hammond D, McCrory C, Dubin J, Leatherdale S. Use of caffeinated energy drinks among secondary school students in Ontario: Prevalence and correlates of using energy drinks and mixing with alcohol. Can J Public Health 2015;106(3):e101–8. doi: 10.17269/cjph.l06.4684. PMID: 26125234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Trapp G, Allen K, O’Sullivan T, Robinson M, Jacoby P, Oddy W. Energy drink consumption among young Australian adults: Associations with alcohol and illicit drug use. Drug Alcohol Depend 2014;134:30–37. PMID: 24120855. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.09.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada. État du marché: les boissons énergisantes en Amérique du Nord. 2009. Available at: http://www.agrireseau.qc.ca/Marketing-Agroalimentaire/documents/Boissons%20%C3%A9nergisantes% 20-%20Am%C3%A9rique%20du%20Nord%20-%20AAC%2008-2009.pdf (Accessed December 4, 2015).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Buxton C, Hagan JE. A survey of energy drinks consumption practices among student-athletes in Ghana: Lessons for developing health education intervention programmes. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2012;9(1):9. PMID: 22444601. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-9-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Azagba S, Langille D, Asbridge M. An emerging adolescent health risk: Caffeinated energy drink consumption patterns among high school students. Prev Med 2014;62:54–59. PMID: 24502849. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.01.019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Nees F, Tzschoppe J, Patrick CJ, Vollstädt-Klein S, Steiner S, Poustka L, et al. Determinants of early alcohol use in healthy adolescents: The differential contribution of neuroimaging and psychological factors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2012;37(4):986–95. PMID: 22113088. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre, 1255, rue Beauregard, Longueuil, QC, J4K 2M3, Canada

    Marianne Picard-Masson MD, MSc, Julie Loslier MD, MSc & Pierre Paquin MPs

  2. Département des sciences de la santé communautaire, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, QC, Canada

    Julie Loslier MD, MSc & Karine Bertrand PhD

Authors
  1. Marianne Picard-Masson MD, MSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julie Loslier MD, MSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pierre Paquin MPs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Karine Bertrand PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marianne Picard-Masson MD, MSc.

Additional information

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Picard-Masson, M., Loslier, J., Paquin, P. et al. Consumption of energy drinks among Québec college students. Can J Public Health 107, e514–e519 (2016). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.107.5536

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.107.5536

Key Words

Mots Clés

Search

Navigation