By Mallory Carlson ’19

As of March 7, students at Middlebury College in Vermont can no longer buy energy drinks on campus. The college’s decision puts an end to the debate that began when an intern produced scientific research at a Community Council meeting and argued that the unhealthy repercussions of the drinks go against the Dining Service’s mission statement, which includes “nourish and nurture today and tomorrow by sustaining mind, body, and earth.” A fellow student at Middlebury also found that energy drinks are linked to “high risk sex and drug use.”

Middlebury, and colleges in general for that matter, should not have the power to dictate what students can and cannot drink, outside of illegal substances (depending on your age) like alcohol. The school, in reality, does little by stopping their sales of energy drinks. Students will just get them from off campus, or buy other substitutes like energy pills, coffee, or even powdered caffeine, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against, as one teaspoon of pure caffeine is about the same as drinking 28 cups of coffee and overdoses can be fatal.

Colleges shouldn’t be able to ban energy drinks because they aren’t illegal and even though there are some possibly negative side effects, they aren’t any worse than other substances college students use or might turn to as a result of the ban.