Caffeine consumption has been gaining significant attention in recent years. According to statistics, 85% of the U.S. population relies on at least one caffeinated beverage, like coffee or tea, every day.
Caffeine intake can be beneficial for staying alert and energized throughout day-to-day tasks. However, too much caffeine can have an adverse effect on our bodies, leading to sleep difficulties or an increased heart rate.
Lets deep dive into further Caffeine consumption statistics to find the state of caffeine consumption.
Overview: Caffeine Consumption Statistics
- Every day, about 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine in some form.
- In adults, 22 years and older, daily caffeine intake was highest (161.9 mg/day).
- Approximately 90 percent of all adults in the world consume caffeine daily.
- 28% of participants were dependent on caffeine according to study.
- Caffeine, in any form, was consumed by 92% of students.
Sources: (Kuakini, tandfonline, UptoDate, ncbi, National Library of Medicine)
What Percentage Of Americans Drink Caffeine Daily?
According to multiple sources, approximately 80-93% of Americans consume caffeine daily (Kuakini Hospital, National Library of Medicine, CDC, Food Insight).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that roughly 80% of U.S. adults consume caffeine every day. Kuakini Hospital reports that about 90% of Americans consume caffeine in some form every day, with more than half of adults consuming 300 milligrams a day.
A survey conducted by the International Food Information Council Foundation found that over nine in ten (93%) Americans report consuming caffeine, with three in four (75%) having it at least once a day.
Another study estimated that 85% of the U.S. population consumes at least one caffeinated beverage per day, with coffee being the primary contributor to caffeine intakes in all age groups.
It is worth noting that different studies may use different methods to measure caffeine consumption and may define “daily” differently. However, all sources agree that a significant majority of Americans consume caffeine on a regular basis.
What Age Group Consumes The Most Caffeine
According to several studies, caffeine consumption increases with age (the health journal, National Library of Medicine, ScienceDirect, and Tandfonline).
A study conducted by the Kantar Worldpanel Beverage Consumption Panel found that caffeine intake was highest in consumers aged 50-64 years (226±2 mg/day).
Another study found that caffeine intakes in adults increased with age, with the highest consumption level in the group aged 50–64 years (226 mg/day) before falling slightly (207 mg/day) in those aged 65 and older.
In children, caffeine intake was lowest for those aged 2-3 years old (3.4 mg/day) and highest for those aged 14-16 years old (41.7 mg/day).
It is important to note that pediatricians advise against caffeine for children under 12 and suggest limiting caffeine to at most 100 mg daily for those aged 12-18 years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises against any use of energy drinks for all children and teens.
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Coffee was found to be the primary contributor to caffeine intakes in all age groups, while carbonated soft drinks and tea provided a greater percentage of caffeine in younger age groups (<18 years old).
Energy drink consumption across all age groups was low, with less than or equal to 10% of the population consuming them regularly.
What Percent Of Adults Worldwide Use Caffeine?
According to various sources, approximately 80-90% of adults worldwide consume caffeine daily (Uptodate, CDC, Kuakini Hospital, National Library of Medicine, and Food Insight).
What Happens To Regular Users Of Caffeine?
Regular users of caffeine may experience both short-term and long-term effects. Short-term effects include increased alertness, increased blood pressure, increased breathing rate, and increased urination according to Princeton University Health Services.
However, some people may feel anxious or jittery even in moderate amounts of caffeine (ama-assn).
Regular use of more than 600 mg of caffeine might cause chronic insomnia, constant anxiety, depression, stomach problems, and high blood pressure or make high blood pressure worse (Alberta Health).
Long-term use can also lead to nervousness, insomnia, dehydration, stomach irritation and fatigue.
Regular heavy use of caffeine (such as more than 4 cups of coffee a day) may eventually cause anxiety, difficulty sleeping ulcers, osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, irritability and headaches according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
Caffeine is a stimulant that stimulates some chemicals in the brain speeding everything up. It can increase respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure which is most often fine in normal people but should be under consideration if they have a light health condition.
Caffeine is also addictive.As your body gets used to caffeine it needs more and more of it to get the same effect (tolerance). As the amount of caffeine goes up so does the risk of side effects. You can become mildly dependent on caffeine from regularly drinking 350 mg (about 2 to 4 cups of coffee) a day.
You might feel like you can’t function without it or that you aren’t fully awake until you’ve had caffeine. If someone wants to eliminate caffeine from their diet, it is best to reduce intake gradually.
How Many Adults Are Addicted To Caffeine
According to studies, a significant proportion of caffeine users become addicted or dependent on caffeine[1][2]. One study found that 28% of participants were dependent on caffeine[3]. However, there is no specific number available for how many adults are addicted to caffeine.
Has Caffeine Consumption Increased?
Caffeine consumption has increased in some areas, but not necessarily in others. In the US, coffee consumption has hit a two-decade high according to the National Coffee Association, while energy drink consumption has increased among adolescents over the past decade according to a new study appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier.
A study published in Nutrition Journal found that caffeine consumption increased with age, largely due to an increase from coffee. However, another study found that mean caffeine intake has not increased among children and adolescents in recent years. Overall, global caffeine consumption is increasing mainly due to population growth, and caffeine consumption per capita is also increasing in some countries according to Science Direct.
