
Link to risky behavior by energy drink fans not completely defined.
Vermont’s Middlebury College has announce the facility will no longer sell energy drinks on campus,beginning March 7, but the reason given for the decision has some people doing a double take, according to the Huffington Post.
A student who is an intern with the Dining Services department at Middlebury, Myles Kamisher-Koch, argued during a meeting of administrators, faculty and students, the drinks, such as Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy, promote a “culture of stress” and lead to bad academic habits, prompting the decision. The college won’t discipline students caught drinking the beverages, but they will have to purchase them off-campus
Dan Detora, who is the executive director of dining hall services, reportedly told NBC that the consumption of energy drinks can have potentially serious health consequences in support of the decision. Other college officials have said the use of the drinks has been linked to alcohol abuse and “high-risk sexual activity” and other unsafe behaviors. Some students are also in support of the decision.
Although there are a number of studies that link risky behavior to energy drinks, so far there is little evidence consumption of the drinks actually cause risky behavior, according to the article. The possibility exists that those who choose to participate in risky behavior also tend to drink energy drinks.
Kathleen Miller who led a study on the subject back in 2008, told the New York Times, the evidence suggests the kids who heavily drink energy drinks are the same ones more likely to be inclined to take more risks.
Of course, the some of the students have opposing views about the ban. Comments like what do have energy drinks have to do with sexual activity, and doesn’t the administration have more important things to worry about, were noted. One student suggested the decision was somewhat hypocritical, since the Dining Services will continue to sell a number of unhealthy fried foods.
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