View Coffee Shops at Arizona State University in a larger map
Coffee is considered a staple in the diets of many
Americans and to most it is necessary for waking up and getting through a day.
Coffee is so widely consumed that, “Nearly
90% of adults ingest caffeine every day” (Fitzpatrick, “The Newest Addictions
on Campus”). Whether the caffeine
is consumed in the form of coffee, tea, energy drinks or even sodas, the rate
of caffeine consumption is overwhelming. College students are not immune to
these statistics. It is a known fact that college students get very little
sleep, especially if they are a full time student who is also involved on
campus, possibly has a job, and maintains a social life. With so much going on
in a college students’ life it is almost impossible to get a full nights sleep.
And what are these exhausted students supposed to do in order to stay awake in
lectures and exams? Caffeine must be the answer. Now is caffeine an adequate
solution to the lack of sleep these students are getting each night? It
certainly is helpful in keeping students awake and alert, and it is ultimately
a positive part of life on the Arizona State Campus.
In order
to evaluate the use of caffeine on the Arizona State Campus I have visited the
coffee shops around campus, as well as observing and analyzing the use of
caffeine on campus. As a regular coffee drinker, I have visited many coffee
shops in many different places. However, by far college campuses are the places
with the most coffee shops and the amount of people purchasing coffee in a
single place. At all times of the day it can be observed that there are long
lines of tired college students waiting for their daily dose of caffeine. The
evaluation is not only based on the amount of people who are seen at these
coffee shops, but based on how the caffeine in these drinks effects a person in
a non-natural way, “by increasing
heart rate and blood pressure, caffeine magnifies the adrenaline response in
the body” (Fitzpatrick, “The Newest Addictions on Campus”). However, despite
these effects of caffeine on people, it still aids students in waking up and
focusing. The evaluation, in total, is based on the criteria of accessibility,
use, effects, and dependability of caffeine on college students, specifically
at Arizona State University.
At Arizona State University one can
find a place to buy a caffeinated beverage almost anywhere. From Starbucks to
Einstein Bros. caffeine is anywhere and everywhere on campus. There must
somehow be a connection between the amount of caffeine in which students
consume and the amount of sleep students are getting. Also, it is possible that
students are addicted to caffeine and that is why ASU has built so many coffee
shops, with such easy access, in such a small area. Even though caffeine is creating an addiction in the
students on campus, it is still a helpful way for the tired students to stay
awake and alert, and ultimately get to class.
Studies show that type A students
are more prone to sleeping problems than those who are type B personalities.
Also, the caffeine intake of the type A students is up to 50 percent more than
that of type B personalities. (Hicks, Kilcourse, Sinnott, 338). This shows how
important caffeine use is to college students. The students who are using
caffeine as a source of fuel to get through the day are using it because of
their lack of sleep. Caffeine is considered a type of drug because of the way
it effects the body in mood and state (Alters 113). This explains how college students are using
caffeine as a drug, which means that it is possible that they are addicted to
the caffeine. This would be a good reason for the school to put in multiple
coffee shops. When walking by a abundance of coffee shops one will smell the
ground coffee beans and it almost lures one in. The place where this is most
evident is in the Memorial Union. One passes Starbucks and Einstein Bros and on
the way out one passes the Starbucks in the BAC building. In a matter of less
than five minutes students are exposed to three coffee shops.
The ironic relaxation of a coffee
shop and rush one gets from the caffeine consumed from coffee or tea is
evident. The shops all do a good job of working quickly for students to get
their fix while on their way to class. The common student may stop to get a
coffee before class in order to stay awake during a long class or lecture. The
coffee shops located almost everywhere around campus surely accomplish this.
One can simply walk into the shop, order, pay, and receive their drink in a
matter of minutes, almost anytime during the day. Because students are so addicted
and essentially need to have their caffeine everyday, the shops around school do
an excellent job in providing this. Although they are also basically feeding
the students addiction, if the students did not have their caffeine would they
even be able to function throughout the day. So, while helping students the
coffee shops are also charging large amounts of money for something that is
basically essential for the well being of students.
Of all the coffee shops and stores
around campus there are five coffee shops and two convenience stores, which
also have coffee machines. Coffee shops around campus provide students with the
caffeine needed for them to get through the day and be focused. They provide a
necessity for many and in a timely manner. Ultimately, the use of caffeine on
campus is a helpful way for students to stay awake and to get stuff done. For
students who depend on caffeine, it is essential for them to get their daily
fix. While the caffeine may have addictive qualities, it is all together a necessary
and good thing for students to have in order to not sleep through lectures and
be awake throughout the day.
