The time is 11:23 p.m. You have a discussion post due at midnight and a quiz the next morning. So much to do and so little time.
The solution: a neon-colored drink and blind confidence.
At Georgia Southern University, energy drinks aren’t just a choice — they’re a survival strategy. So we asked students what energy drink they reach for most and why. We collected anonymous responses from Georgia Southern students to find out.
Campus Favorites
A few brands stood out across campus.
Monster (24.1% of votes) If you’ve made the trek to any vending machine on campus, you’ve seen the infamous Monster can staring back.
Red Bull (20.7% of votes) Red Bull gives you wings — and many students seem to be using them.
Alani Nu (17.2% of votes) The perfect option for students that want a little energy boost, but make it aesthetic.
Celsius (13.8% of votes) Celsius is the energy drink that says, “I have class, a gym session, and my life is mostly together.”
Tie Between Bang and Reign Total Body (3.4% of votes) GSU students have almost as many classes as they do favorite energy drinks.
What’s Hiding Behind the Can?
We all know that energy drinks don’t have a reputation for being the healthiest options on the market. To better understand their impact, we compared the most popular energy drinks on campus based on sugar content, caffeine levels, calories and ingredient profiles.
While some options are marketed as “healthier” than others, it is important to note that all energy drinks have high amounts of caffeine and should be consumed in moderation.
So how bad are they, really? Here’s how these drinks rank from most to least healthy, at least in terms of sugar, caffeine and calories.
Monster With an average of 54 grams of sugar and 220 calories per can, Monster has found itself at the top of our list. I guess there’s a reason it’s called “Monster” after all.
Red Bull Coming in at second place is Red Bull with 27 grams of sugar and 110 calories per can. Apparently it takes a little more than magic to grow wings.
Tie Between Bang and Reign Total Body Both drinks have 0 grams of sugar, but have 300 milligrams of caffeine per can, making it less about a sugar rush and more about wondering why your heart is speaking in Morse code.
Alani Nu With a whopping 0 grams of sugar at 10 calories per can, Alani Nu earned its place as one of the “lighter” options on campus. Basically, it’s energy with a side of “I have my life together.”
Celsius Finally, Celsius takes its spot as the “healthiest” energy drink on campus. It also has 0 grams of sugar and 10 calories, but what it really comes down to is the sweeteners used. Unlike many of the other energy drinks on this list, Celsius is marketed with a more “clean energy” image — though at the end of the day, it is still very much an energy drink.
No amount of “clean energy” or “zero sugar” branding changes the fact that an energy drink is not a full eight hours of sleep. Yes, this is your sign to go to bed.
