2008 Woodie Awards
To Drink or Not to Drink?
That is the Question of 'Energy Drinks'
Chioma Egbuchunam
Issue date: 4/15/06 Section: News
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Those words represent the ingredients that are found in a can of Red Bull, an "energy drink" used by athletes, party goers, and late-night studiers, that recent studies show may have negative health affects.
With the very comical commercials and catchy slogan "Red Bull gives you wings", the drink that originated in Austria has become quite popular in America with people of all ages and sizes, but more so it seems with college students.
According to the Red Bull Company, the drink was developed for times of increased mental and physical exertion. It is said to improve performance by increasing concentration, increasing reaction speed and endurance, as well as stimulating metabolism.
The typical college student's life can be filled with all kinds of stresses, such as work, tests, extracurricular activities, and homework. The quick paced life of a student is the reason why Red Bull was targeted at this audience.
Helene Brown, a Mercy College graduate student, feels Red Bull has come to her rescue quite a few times during her academic career. "Energy drinks like Red Bull as well as other caffeinated drinks affect different people in different ways. I find that Red Bull helps me 'get over the hump'. It helps me finish a paper, or get myself organized when I am feeling sluggish. It is the greatest drink ever!"
Red Bull itself is not available at the Mercy College Hudson View Café anymore because it is not a Pepsi-Cola affiliated product. Mercy College is in conjunction with the Pepsi-Cola Company, and in abiding with the contract that Aramark (the company that runs the café) has with the college, Red Bull (which only recently was removed from the café last month), is not sold in the cafeteria.
Though there is no Red Bull available in the café, the equivalent is available- Sobe Adrenaline Rush.
Mercy College junior Bia Pante, a Sobe drinker, said, "I need the adrenaline rush. I only drink them when I need to stay awake because they work. It makes me jittery and awake…and actually gives me a short attention span, but at least I stay awake long enough to complete an assignment."
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